About half of the Britons who were supposed to serve quarantine in the ski resort of Verbier have gone into hiding. Swiss authorities began to suspect something unusual because their meals were left untouched.
Hundreds of British guests put in quarantine over the new, more infectious variant of the coronavirus have fled from the Swiss ski resort of Verbier, with some of them re-emerging in France, Swiss authorities reported on Sunday.
Verbier, an alpine village located in the municipality of Bagnes in Canton Valais, is a popular ski destination for British tourists.
Bagnes spokesman Jean-Marc Sandoz told the German Press Agency that Swiss authorities had identified 420 guests from the UK who were ordered into quarantine before Christmas.
About 50 fled immediately, and of the 370 others, less than a dozen were still there on Sunday, he said, adding that some of the guests have re-appeared in neighboring France.
"Many of them stayed in quarantine for a day before they set off unnoticed under cover in the darkness," Sandoz said.
According to local media, hoteliers began to suspect a "secret departure" because calls to quarantine rooms "were repeatedly unanswered" and the meals left in front of rooms "had not been touched."
"That was the worst week our community has ever experienced,” Sandoz told newspaper Sonntags Zeitung, calling it an "unprecedented situation." He said Bagnes felt abandoned by both the federal and regional governments.
Swiss 'understand' Brits' frustration
The spokesman condemned Switzerland's decision to hastily impose quarantine requirements for people arriving from the UK.
"We understand their anger," Sandoz said.
On December 20, Switzerland blocked all flights from the UK and South Africa in connection to the new variants of the coronavirus found in those countries.
A day later, Swiss authorities ordered all people having arrived since December 14 to be quarantined retroactively for 10 days from their date of arrival.
Latest Stories
-
Burnley sign partnership deal with fan-backed scouting platform Nordensa
18 mins -
Akesse Brempong, MOG Music, Afronita, Dope Nation to perform at Nsoromma Season 6 Grand Finale
22 mins -
Hopeson Adorye to form ‘Jail Them’ advocacy group
2 hours -
Shatta Wale once cried and knelt to apologise to Mahama – Dr Lawrence Tetteh
2 hours -
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson turned away from polling station after forgetting photo ID
2 hours -
Nigeria soldiers face trial for deadly air strike ‘mistake’
2 hours -
Akufo-Addo, Otumfuo to commission Kumasi International Airport on May 10
2 hours -
PWDs who gain admission into tertiary institutions will be prioritised with government scholarships – Bawumia
2 hours -
Strongman regrets involving Fella Makafui in Medikal feud
2 hours -
NPP must unite now or perish later – Ameyaw-Akumfi warns
2 hours -
Fuel price adjustment: petrol surges to GH₵15.22, diesel falls to GH₵14.65
2 hours -
Kojo Golden nominated for Afrobeat Artiste of the Year at Ghana Music Awards USA
2 hours -
Ford Foundation partners foster collaborative solutions for host Community Development Trusts implementation in Nigeria
2 hours -
Appiatse reconstruction: Support Bawumia to do more for Ghana – Richard Ahiagbah to Ghanaians
3 hours -
I wanted Harry Kane at Man United – Ten Hag
3 hours