Coronavirus in Scotland: Father and daughter who were first travellers to be put into quarantine now told they can leave Edinburgh hotel due to ‘error’

A father and daughter who were among the first international arrivals to check into one of Scotland's quarantine hotels were told they could leave – just hours later – because of a loophole.

Since Monday, people flying directly into a Scottish airport on international flights have to self-isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel room.

Unless exempt, a passenger must pay £1,750 to quarantine in a room at one of six designated hotels in a bid to avoid importation of the virus.

However, this does not apply to travellers arriving from within the Common Travel Area, including the UK and Ireland.

On Monday morning, Chun Wong and his eight-year-old daughter Kiernan arrived at Edinburgh Airport from the United States via Dublin, and went straight to a hotel at Edinburgh Airport.

However, Mr Wong told BBC Scotland that on Monday night officials told them a mistake had been made and the pair could self-isolate at home in Fife.

He said: “I received a call from reception saying a gentleman from the airport would like to talk to me.

“He said that since I landed in Dublin first and then got a connecting flight to here, I was not required to quarantine in a hotel.

Chun Wong and his daughter Kiernan, 8, leave Edinburgh airport after entering the country on the first day that travellers flying directly into Scotland on international flights have to self-isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel room.

“I still have to quarantine and do the self-testing kit on the second and eighth day, but they said it was an error on their part.”

Mr Wong said he could have checked out of the hotel immediately, but decided to stay the night as it was late.

After being given the news they could isolate at home in Glenrothes, Mr Wong said he was very relieved.

He worked in healthcare in the US, but has travelled to Scotland to be with Kiernan's mum, Danielle.

A dual UK/US citizen, his wife is a front-line worker who has been in the country since November 2019. But the family had been separated for 16 months until now.

Mr Wong told the BBC: “Danielle has been calling the government every day, and unfortunately every day there were different answers." he said.

"There was a big level of grey. It seems like one department did not get the full picture from other departments.”

He said he was relieved rather than angry. “I'm relieved because the news that we had to stay in a hotel for 10 additional days was heartbreaking. It was terrible.”

Mr Wong added that his daughter was “ecstatic, overjoyed and a little nervous” to be seeing her mum – as it had been 16 months.

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “We are delighted that the Wong family has been reunited after 16 months apart and we wish them well in their new life in Scotland.

“As Mr Wong himself has stated, he and his wife received inaccurate advice from the government which shows the confusion this policy has created.

“It is a clear example of the loophole that our governments have created in action and they should work together to close it before this happens again.”

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