UK tourists fled quarantine in Swiss ski resort

Hundreds of Britons spending the holidays in the Swiss ski resort of Verbier fled the village to avoid quarantine rules.

They were put in place by Switzerland's government after the discovery of a new strain of the coronavirus in the UK.

Around 200 British tourists reportedly fled the ski town this week, breaking a 10-day quarantine rule put in place by the government two weeks ago for all visitors from the United Kingdom.

The Swiss government ordered people who have entered the country from the UK and South Africa since December 14 to undergo a 10-day quarantine.

They also imposed a general entry ban for foreign nationals from the countries.

Switzerland joined several countries in suspending travel for Britons after Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the mutated variant was up to 70% more transmissible.

Verbier is especially popular to British tourists, they make up 20 percent of all its visitor in a typical winter season.