South America isolation

[KarenMarlow3]

The government has banned travel from South America and says that British and Irish nationals entering the UK must self isolate for 10 days.
Why isn't self isolation being enforced, instead of the wishy washy statement telling people to do so?
The government could use hotels - they are empty right now, and drive arrivals directly to a hotel, where they are forced to stay for ten days. They should be looked after by staff wearing complete, medical grade PPE.
As things stand, even those willing to self isolate will need to travel, possibly on public transport, to arrive at their destination, and may be infecting people as they travel.
I am fed up with the UK's half hearted measures.

[quote leafygarden42]@oneglassandpuzzled

It doesn't matter who the f* pays for it - as long as they do it!!!![/quote]
Two weeks‘ board and lodging paid by the taxpayer for someone who just fancied a holiday or a trip home?

If they can’t or won’t pay they don’t enter.

Sad how south American countries get very little attention in the UK.

In theory I agree that the traveller should quarantine in a hotel and foot the bill.
Under the current system the Government are trusting people to quarantine with only a few checks. If someone breaks the quarantine rules and ends up passing on the virus it will cost a lot more for an ICU beds for those infected than it would ever have cost for the Government to take over airport hotel beds for 10 days, so on that basis it's possibly worth the Government enforcing immediate quarantine for passengers upon landing in this country and footing the bill.

@bigbluebus

so on that basis it's possibly worth the Government enforcing immediate quarantine for passengers upon landing in this country and footing the bill

Airlines can check before boarding that the passenger has booked the hotel to quarantine in (with meals provided). The government (us) doesn't need to pay for anything

Yes, in the same way that the airlines have a duty to ensure that travellers have the relevant visa for the country they are entering, they need to have a booking confirmation for their quarantine accommodation.
This should have been done a year ago!