Swiss anger as British skiers flee resort to avoid new quarantine rules

More than 200 British skiers are reported to have fled on Saturday night after coronavirus quarantine was imposed in the Swiss resort of Verbiery.

A spokesman in Valais canton said 420 British guests had booked into Verbier accommodation before Christmas and only about a dozen were left.

Switzerland impose date nday quarantine back dated to 14 December because of the new virus strain spreading in the UK. The country also stopped flights from the UK and South Africa on 20 December.

Some Swiss hoteliers only discovered the guests had vanished when room service trays were left untouched outside doors, Swiss media reported.

Others were called by British tourists demanding their money back once they had safely crossed into France.

Verbier is especially popular among British skiers, who normally make up about onefifth of the resort's winter clientele.

Switzerland has sparked controversy by deciding, despite the pandemic, to keep its ski resorts open.

Some Swiss believe that decision was a mistake while others are angry at British tourists who they feel have abused the hospitality offered to them.

Some scientists say the new Covid-19 strain is more infectious than the one responsible for the pandemic, but not necessarily any more dangerous for those infected.

The new variant has already been detected in Switzerland and several other countries.

Another new variant emerged in South Africa this month.