yes you need the Visa to get on the flight list but you need a flight to get the visa. I know this was trying to find out how people got around the issue.
that's what I was struggling with. You need a flight and hotel to get the visa but you cant get the repatriation flight and quarantine hotel till you have visa. Best option seems book hotel and flight. Get visa then cancel them.
What I understand is you need the visa before you can apply for flights then when you get a flight you need to prove fit to fly, covid test and quarantine hotel for arrival.