Coronavirus in Scotland: First international arrivals at Edinburgh Airport escorted to quarantine hotels for 10 day isolation costing £1,750

The first international arrivals at Edinburgh Airport since the closure of Scotland’s travel corridors have been escorted to nearby quarantine hotels this morning.

Under new rules that came into force on Monday, all travellers who arrive in Scotland via air must self isolate in one of six pre-ordained hotels close to the nation’s major airports.

The first such visitor landed in Scotland from the United States via Dublin Airport at 9:55am.

Chun Yong arrived at Edinburgh Airport on Monday morning with his eight-year-old daughter Kiernan, having caught a connecting flight at Dublin from the USA.

He said: “I made it, I’m glad I’m here and whatever it takes to stay – I’m good.

“We’ve talked to (my daughter) about it already so it’s going to be a nice hotel stay – if anything we will get our feet settled here.

“I’m just glad that we’ve landed and just getting ready to get settled.

“Even though I’ve got my Covid-19 shots already (I’ll do) whatever it takes to make sure everybody is safe – I’m all for it.”

The first international arrival landed in Scotland from the United States via Dublin Airport at 9:55am, before he and his daughter were directed to the nearby Hilton Hotel to begin what the Scottish Government describes as “supported isolation”.

He added he would spend his time in quarantine with his daughter playing Guess Who, Uno and maybe poker.

Unless exempt, each passenger will have to pay £1,750 to quarantine in a hotel room.

Scottish Government guidance stipulates those subject to quarantine require a negative Covid-19 test no more than three days before travelling and to have booked at a room at a quarantine hotel in advance.

On arrival at the hotel, they will be given two home testing kits to be used on days two and eight of isolation.

These are covered by the cost as are three meals per day, fruit and soft drinks.

If they test positive at any point they will be required to stay in the hotel for 10 days after the test, at an additional charge starting at £152 daily for the first adult.

A total of six hotels have been block-booked in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with up to 1,300 rooms available between them, according to the Scottish Government.

In England, the UK Government will only require hotel quarantine for visitors from a “red list” of 33 countries designated as high risk, meaning travellers arriving from elsewhere could avoid it by entering Scotland via England.

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