Quarantine hotels in Scotland will not be fenced off and guarded 24 hours a day to keep residents inside, the country's clinical director insisted.
Jason Leitch said the new system for dealing with international arrivals at airports was designed to allow people to safely isolate.
From Monday, all passengers arriving in Scotland will be expected to enter one of six previously agreed quarantine hotels for a period of 10 days.
They will be provided with meals for the duration and undergo two tests before being allowed to leave.
Speaking at the Scottish Government's regular lockdown briefing on Friday, Leitch said the final logistics were still being worked out - but said the assumption was residents would not attempt to "abscond".
"Let's remember the principle here is you shouldn't travel unless you absolutely have to," the clinical director said.
"We're not expecting people to abscond from self-isolation. This is supported isolation. It's to put in place meals and accommodation to allow people to safely quarantine before they go back to their families or workplaces.
"We will allow people to behave like human beings. So people will be able to go outdoors for fresh air - that will be part of the operational process.
"But we're not expecting there to be guards and fences to keep people in. It's not that kind of image. It's about allowing people to isolate safely in a secure environment.
"The operational side of it - how the meals will be delivered, testing for staff - that's being worked out as we speak."
There will be limited exemptions to allow certain workers - such as those involved in the essential movement of goods, or North Sea oil staff - to skip the quarantine hotel rule.
It comes as health secretary Jeane Freeman revealed talks were continuing with Westminster on how to ensure Scots who land at English airports enter quarantine hotels before travelling home.
The UK Government is only expecting passengers from a "red list" of countries to enter self-isolation on hotels, putting it at odds with the SNP approach.
Freeman said it was an operational matter for Police Scotland to step up border checks.
Speaking at the lockdown briefing, she said: "The point about the land border - we are very clear, as a Scottish Government, in saying that no international traveller should enter Scotland without being part of managed quarantine.
"It's driven by clinical advice and it's been driven by experience over the summer last year. We are very determined to ensure that view is followed.
"We continue to discuss with the UK Government because we think their approach is insufficient, and we're trying to persuade them that they should adopt a tougher stance.
"However, we have to give serious thought to the fact many will enter the UK via the major airport hubs in London and elsewhere and will then travel to Scotland.
"So we have to work through with the UK Government how that will be managed. If there is a need for other measures at the border, that is an operational issue for our Chief Constable."
