To ask when the quarantine hotels will start?

[PhoebeSnow]

Does anyone know when this will start?
My son and I are going back home to UK very soon after living in South Africa for years and don’t know what to expect when we arrive...

Not sure as it hasn’t been confirmed but they hinted at the next couple of weeks. How soon are you coming back? If the quarantine hotels have been set up you’ll need to pay to quarantine there for 14 days. If not then you have to isolate at home for either 14 days or if you get a test after 5 days.

We have to have Covid tests 72 hours before we fly and obviously those tests need to be negative, but will we need to be tested again when we’ve arrive in UK ?

I don't think they are allowing any flights from SA just now?

Regardless of the outcome of the tests you still have isolate at home or in an isolation hotel if that has started.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa
From gov website
Visitors arriving into the UK who have been in or transited through South Africa in the previous 10 days will not be permitted entry
British and Irish citizens, and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK will still be able to enter via indirect routes from South Africa. You will be required to complete a passenger locator form and must self-isolate for ten days after your arrival, along with your household. If you only hold a visit visa for travel to the UK, you will not be able to enter if you have been in South Africa in the past 10 days (See Coronavirus)

You can’t current enter the U.K. if you have been in South African in the previous 10 days.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa

When the rule comes in it won't be either or. You'll have to go to a hotel, you'll be escorted there.

You would have thought with the pandemic being 10 months old, a date could be announced. Hoteliers indicated there has been a discussion with them for over 2 weeks.

[quote Thatwentbadly]You can’t current enter the U.K. if you have been in South African in the previous 10 days.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa[/quote]
Since OP says they are coming home, I assume they are British citizens so yes they can. I don't believe the UK government can legally bar British citizens from entering the country.

I would make the move ASAP, OP, if you want to do your quarantine in a private home.

Yes we are British born with British passports, so we should be able to quarantine at our home in UK for the 10 or 14 days required.

Thanks to all who responded.

When the quarantine hotels open, also UK citizens returning home will have to stay in hotel for the 14 or 10 days.