The head of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) is leaving his post, the agency said Wednesday, after a controversial Christmas trip denounced as a breach of Covid-19 guidelines.

Dan Eliasson, who has headed the agency since 2018, asked the government to reassign him and the government was expected to make a decision shortly, according to a statement from the agency.

The row started after the Eliasson travelled to the Canaries to spend Christmas with his daughter, a resident of the islands, which are located off north Africa.

The daily newspaper Expressen reported that Eliasson had flown out a little over a week after the government had recommended people not to travel overseas unless “necessary”.