NI's compulsory hotel isolation goes live
Red-list visitors will have to book quarantine - and pay for it.
Last updated 17th Apr 2021
Passengers arriving into Northern Ireland from 'red-list countries' will have to undergo a 10-day hotel quarantine.
Guests will have to pay for the isolation themselves, at a rate of £1,750 per adult.
The arrangements have been put in place ahead of the return of international flights to local airports, but currently, there are not any international arrivals here.
The online booking portal is run by the Department of Health and opened late last night (Friday).
Adding another adult, or child over 12, costs £650, while the additional rate for a child aged five to 12 is £325.
The required isolation period is 10 days and all bookings must be made through the online portal, with failure to do so resulting in a £1,000 fine.
The package will include collection at the airport and transfer to the designated hotel and provision of PCR test kits.
Guests will be given a welcome pack on arrival, which will include information and signposting to essential services to assist them in their stay.
Meals and refreshments will be provided by the hotel.
There are currently 39 countries on the Government's red list which have been flagged as being at high risk of Covid-19.
A DoH spokesperson said the measures "are to stop the spread of potentially harmful variants" into Northern Ireland.
"Anyone not complying with the regulations may be refused boarding by the airline or carrier and/ or fined on arrival.
"Detailed, up-to-date information on all international travel arrangements can be found on nidirect www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-advice," the DoH statement said.