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Zari Tadayon looks through a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. Reuters
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Travellers from 33 'red list' countries, including South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, must be quarantined in hotels rooms for 10 days at their own expense. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYTTT5QL6R4Y5EDQDC3SCHFD6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=61002d8a6432ca3f10061f620a32b40f63e60e097caf93092f647d37ac7716fb&width=400&height=225)
Passengers travelling from 'red list' countries are escorted through the arrivals area of terminal 5 of Heathrow airport and onto a coach, on February 16, 2021. Getty Images
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An aircraft flies over the Sofitel at London Heathrow airport on February 15, 2021. Bloomberg
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A woman accompanied by a boy and girl stand and gesture out of a window from inside the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport in west London on February 17, 2021 where they are undertaking mandatory hotel quarantine because of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TBXWUBFUEXSWGZO54AOVBY2P6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=c29578e12fcc09e135fa35a05ebe8e4c1cd2bd42fd1c0c8dc8e5a2f91bdf7d45&width=400&height=225)
A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, as Britain introduces hotel quarantine programme for arrivals from a "red list" of 30 countries, amidst the coronavirus disease outbreak in London, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters
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A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, as Britain introduces hotel quarantine programme for arrivals from a "red list" of 30 countries in London, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z7X5QAJYOMBIKPCZRMXU3ZLBMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd4a678383745eed0970ec1eaac6f5a591905c2ef76f9b6ebeefc67f6982c935&width=400&height=225)
A paper bag with a message written on it is seen in a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters
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Passengers are escorted by security to a coach destined for the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. EPA / Getty
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Passengers are escorted by security to a coach destined for the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. EPA / Getty
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A mobile Covid-19 testing centre run by Randox is set upon the grounds of the Radisson Blu hotel near Heathrow airport. Getty Images
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The cost of a 10-day stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel is 1,700 pounds or 2,400 pounds for a couple sharing a room. EPA / Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GTGF2WCHCXXQHWHESNFXQYODTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=56243a2d4a3152511bd9cef45c4b80b2b421799f7001bd8b20e2d7661eff909b&width=400&height=225)
Zari Tadayon looks through a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NBAKHOJAKVKN3WEU7M3BF4ZRC4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b7e7a368f6368ad36f2a82478c8407c3be159ba7bb9c26cb671fa6276a1b224b&width=400&height=225)
Travellers from 33 'red list' countries, including South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, must be quarantined in hotels rooms for 10 days at their own expense. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYTTT5QL6R4Y5EDQDC3SCHFD6I.jpg?smart=true&auth=61002d8a6432ca3f10061f620a32b40f63e60e097caf93092f647d37ac7716fb&width=400&height=225)
Passengers travelling from 'red list' countries are escorted through the arrivals area of terminal 5 of Heathrow airport and onto a coach, on February 16, 2021. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VMZBZB26GVXXJKROMV2GNW4V5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=95bea1b94888ce689b1548fede4de069340ed1fc3be7ae06f8db483a9184f376&width=400&height=225)
An aircraft flies over the Sofitel at London Heathrow airport on February 15, 2021. Bloomberg
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SQTHTY3TXEIXNDSRP7OTAT54U4.jpg?smart=true&auth=dd96b75e2c1645fff77443c7ddf6d81a7a6fbb8d2bfd51f6e9e99cfcf4258e81&width=400&height=225)
A woman accompanied by a boy and girl stand and gesture out of a window from inside the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport in west London on February 17, 2021 where they are undertaking mandatory hotel quarantine because of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TBXWUBFUEXSWGZO54AOVBY2P6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=c29578e12fcc09e135fa35a05ebe8e4c1cd2bd42fd1c0c8dc8e5a2f91bdf7d45&width=400&height=225)
A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, as Britain introduces hotel quarantine programme for arrivals from a "red list" of 30 countries, amidst the coronavirus disease outbreak in London, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters
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A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, as Britain introduces hotel quarantine programme for arrivals from a "red list" of 30 countries in London, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z7X5QAJYOMBIKPCZRMXU3ZLBMQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd4a678383745eed0970ec1eaac6f5a591905c2ef76f9b6ebeefc67f6982c935&width=400&height=225)
A paper bag with a message written on it is seen in a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JTW4ZV3R344HVV235FK27HW634.jpg?smart=true&auth=141383728f3476284abe37f60547c0fc630b0e0d8c41b0bde417d5692770fb2d&width=400&height=225)
Passengers are escorted by security to a coach destined for the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. EPA / Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AUE7KEDVKJUT2NGCOSYVIB3SJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ad19a913e9e3ecc75713f16a7ac4915fc442c1218524f6f6dbd8c4ff330cbb2c&width=400&height=225)
Passengers are escorted by security to a coach destined for the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. EPA / Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J6PAZMNK5ZQUNIGRUUHRN3HKGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=f595ddd41f909b32f149a0a33d5b65f3fb74a8afb83ef4882c9806e54e279ac4&width=400&height=225)
A mobile Covid-19 testing centre run by Randox is set upon the grounds of the Radisson Blu hotel near Heathrow airport. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMTSBT6Y3X7LUHUV3QIBW3AY3M.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3bbc1270235bcd3a5a014091c3bd94aea5e654170330942de05a7db980c0b21&width=400&height=225)
The cost of a 10-day stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel is 1,700 pounds or 2,400 pounds for a couple sharing a room. EPA / Getty
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GTGF2WCHCXXQHWHESNFXQYODTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=56243a2d4a3152511bd9cef45c4b80b2b421799f7001bd8b20e2d7661eff909b&width=400&height=225)
Zari Tadayon looks through a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. Reuters
UK hotel quarantine: what does it mean and can you get exemptions?
Travellers have been able to obtain day passes to leave hotel quarantine and visit very sick relatives, provided they have proof
![Gillian Duncan](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F736ebb26-e270-44c5-96a2-80452d783888.png?smart=true&auth=6b2c4dc0614f332daaa4e848c41f090496fd16da3ccccaa940132372e6a74710&width=70&height=70)
Gillian Duncan
07 May, 2021
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