An alleged coronavirus "superspreader" could be jailed up to 10 years if she is charged and convicted after going on a pub crawl despite being told to self-isolate.
The 26-year-old Florida woman, who works at a US military hotel in Germany, allegedly thanked pals for coming to her "rona party" and claimed she didn't know she had Covid-19.
German officials have angrily blasted the American hotel worker and warned that she will be punished amid a fresh outbreak of about 40 cases in the Alpine ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Officials said the "careless" and "reckless" woman developed a sore throat after returning from a holiday in Greece and was told to self-isolate while awaiting the result of her Covid-19 test, but she still went out partying with colleagues from the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort.
The woman was told the day after the pub crawl that her test result was positive, and now at least two dozen people at the lodge, owned by the US Department of Defense, have caught the potentially deadly bug.
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German prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the woman on suspicion of negligent bodily harm.
The outbreak has the town back into a partial lockdown with tougher restrictions, including a 10pm curfew for restaurants, and the lodge is closed for two weeks.
A former employee claimed to MailOnline that the woman was working in the hotel's cafe and had set up a conference for US military bosses, who were discussing how to stop the spread of Covid-19, before she tested positive.
After partying with colleagues, the woman allegedly sent a text message to them reading: "I'd like to take the time now to thank everyone for coming to my rona party and to apologize for the current circumstances.
"I did not know I had the rona when we went out Tuesday but I take full responsibility in not self isolating whilst having a cold."
A friend replied: "Whilst having corona."
The woman wrote back: "WE GET IT."
Officials in Garmisch have said the woman, who had "clear" symptoms when she was told to self-isolate, should be punished with a heavy fine. They described her as a "superspreader" and said she "ignored" the order to quarantine.
Lawyer Arndt Kempgens said there could be grounds for a criminal case against the woman with a sentence ranging between six months and 10 years if she is convicted.
He said: "From the point of view of conditional intent, this can even lead to criminal liability for wilful and dangerous bodily harm according to Section 224 of the Criminal Code. The sentence ranges from 6 months to 10 years in prison."
Officials in Garmisch said the American woman went on several nights out after returning from Greece, visiting restaurants, an Irish bar and a cocktail bar that was hosting a karaoke night.
Sources claimed to MailOnline that the woman kissed some of her colleagues goodbye as they left a bar on the night of September 3.
It was alleged that she was already feeling unwell at that time.
Officials in Garmisch said she was swabbed for coronavirus on September 7 and was told to quarantine, but then went out with colleagues on the night of September 8.
She was told on September 9 that her test result was positive for coronavirus.
Local administrator Anton Speer told Bild: "She infected at least 22 Americans. It is a Herculean task to trace all of the contacts."
Ian O'Hagan, the owner of an Irish bar visited by the woman, was furious, saying:“This is a disaster. We fought so hard and implemented stricter hygiene measures."
He added: “I'm upset with the young woman. Despite her symptoms and the quarantine, she went on a night out."
Markus Söder, president of Bavaria, told reporters the outbreak shows how much "carelessness and irrationality endanger others".
"A very high fine" could be levied against the woman, he added.
The current penalty for ignoring the quarantine is €2,000 (£1,840).
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the woman was "reckless" and officials should make an example out of her to send a message to others who find themselves in quarantine.
The resort's seven-day rolling rate of new infections is now 54 per 100,000 people.
Stephan Scharf, a spokesman for the resort, said: “The woman had symptoms and went to a testing station, and she was told to remain in quarantine because of her symptoms.
"But she didn't do that. We don't know where she caught it."
He said an investigation and contact tracing were underway. It was unknown whether the woman caught the virus in the Alpine resort or during her trip to Greece. She returned at the end of August.
As a result of the outbreak, officials alerted the public and said anyone who had visited the bars and restaurants visited by the woman should get a test.
So far, more than 700 people have been tested. Of those, at least three have tested positive, Bild reported.
At least two dozen people at the US military-owned hotel have tested positive, German media reported.
Earlier this week, the resort had 59 active cases of Covid-19, including 37 confirmed in one day, it was reported.
Located about 55 miles south-west of Munich, the Edelweiss lodge is used by members of the US military and their families.
The US has several military sites scattered around Germany.
The hotel said in a statement: "Several staff members of the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort have tested positive for Covid-19.
"As a precaution, additional staff members who had prolonged, direct contact with the positive staff members have also been quarantined.
"The facility is working with US Army medical professionals and local medical officials to assess the situation and conduct contact tracing.
"Due to the number of staff members affected, the decision has been made to close the resort for two weeks beginning Monday, September 14.
"The health, safety and welfare of the resorts guests, staff and the surrounding community are a top priority for the organisation.
"Military leaders are keeping local organisations and host nation officials informed.
"Anyone who has visited the resort since September 3 should monitor for any symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms develop."
Mirror Online contacted the 26-year-old woman via Facebook earlier this week. She did not respond to a message and it appears her Facebook and Instagram accounts have since been deleted.