Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images Two separate "super-spreader" events in the US and Europe show that stigma might be contributing to the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus began to spread in the wealthy neighborhood of Westport, Connecticut, after a lavish birthday party attended by international travelers. Vacationers at the affluent ski resort of Ischgl, Austria, spread the coronavirus across six different countries. Some Westport residents didn't speak up about exposure, while Austrian authorities downplayed the infections at the ski resort. Both had reputations to protect. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Stigma might be partially responsible for the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. In both the US and Europe, two possible "super-spreader" events in high-end regions — Westport, Connecticut, and Ischgl, Austria — have caused the coronavirus to escalate.