A loophole released a dad and daughter from a Scots quarantine hotel within just one day.
Chun Wong and eight-year-old daughter Kiernan were able to leave a hotel at Edinburgh Airport after flying in from America via Dublin.
It comes after officials accidentally told them they must quarantined instead of self-isolating at home in Fife.
The pair had come to Scotland to start a new life with mum Danielle Wong after being separated for 16 months, reports The Mirror.
The parent and child were among the first international travellers to go into a quarantine hotels in Scotland following new travel rules on Monday.
But it was a mistake, as the the guidelines do not apply to those arriving in the UK from within the Common Travel Area including Ireland.
It comes as anyone arriving in the UK from 33 "red list" countries must pay £1,750 for a mandatory 10-day quarantine.
Chun Wong told the BBC: "I received a call from reception saying gentleman for airport would like to talk to me in person.
"He said that since I landed in Dublin first and then connected a flight to here, I was not required to quarantine in the hotel.
"My emotions are relived, I'm relieved.
"If it needs to be done it needs to be done, but to find out it doesn't need to be done makes relived that I can go home and self quarantine."
When the BBC asked him how he felt about being reunited with his wife Chun said: "I don't even have the words.
"Never in my life have I experienced this.
"My daughter was estate she was over joyed and a little nervous after 16 months not seeing her mom, it's crazy."
Mr Wong was told he was free to leave the hotel but as he was tired he stayed the night.
He said officials were making arrangements to transport him and his daughter to his home in Fife on Tuesday.
Chun Wong told the BBC while at the quarantine hotel "It is what it is you, you gotta do what you got to do to make everyone safe."
Kiernan Wong told the BBC while at the quarantine hotel: "I'm kind of upset I cant see my mom but at same time I'm kind of okay because at least we are in Scotland."
Danielle Wong spoke to the BBC while her family stayed at the quarantine hotel: "Another 10 or 11 days another drop in the bucket for how long we have waited I cant wait to give her a hug it's been too long."
Mr Wong worked in healthcare in the US and his family are moving to Scotland to be with Kiernan's mum and his wife Danielle.
Danielle, who is a dual UK/US citizen, has been in Scotland since November 2019 and is a front-line worker helping to care for people with addictions.
The family have been separated for 16 months and Mr Wong said the prospect of being apart for a further 10 days was "heartbreaking".
He is now hoping he will be given a refund for the fee he was forced to pay to quarantine.
The Mirror has contacted the Scottish Government for a comment.
The news comes as bosses at Heathrow Airport have admitted there is no system in place that segregate passengers and they warned of long delays at Border Control.
This means thousands of passengers will be free to mix with travellers from "red list" countries while they face five-hour airport queues.
Officials estimate that checks to identify if a traveller has arrived from one of 33 "red list" countries will take 15 minutes, The Times reports.
A Heathrow spokesman said: "Our key concern remains the ability of Border Force to cope.
"Queues at the border in recent days of almost five hours are totally unacceptable.
"Ministers need to ensure there is adequate resource and effective processes at the border to avoid compromising the safety of passengers and those working at the airport, which could necessitate the suspension of some arriving flights."
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We are working closely with airlines and carriers who are ensuring that the flights they provide are Covid secure.
"When people arrive in the UK the ports and airports have got specific arrangements for those that need to go into quarantine."
Downing Street insisted there were "different processes" in place.
