The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Regulations made by the Department of Health and laid before the Assembly under section 25Q (Emergency procedure) of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, for approval of the Assembly before the expiration of 28 days beginning with the day on which they are made.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2020 No. 86

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Made

at 5.00 p.m. on 21st May 2020

Laid before the Assembly

at 9.00 a.m. on 22nd May 2020

Coming into operation

at 11.00 p.m. on 21st May 2020

The Department of Health(1), makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 25C(1), (3)(c), (4)(d) and 25F(2) of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967(2).

These Regulations are made in response to the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incidence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health considers that the restrictions and requirements imposed by these Regulations are proportionate to what they seek to achieve, which is a public health response to that threat.

In accordance with section 25Q of that Act the Department of Health is of the opinion that, by reason of urgency, it is necessary to make these Regulations without a draft having been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation at 11.00 p.m. on 21st May 2020.

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

2.—(1) The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 3(5) (requirement to close premises and businesses during the emergency), after sub-paragraph (b), insert—

“(c) premises used for the businesses listed in paragraphs 5, 6, 7, 9 or 10 of that Part to screen a film or to stage a live music concert or theatre performance outdoor to persons who are present in a vehicle parked on the premises, subject to the person responsible for the business taking all reasonable measures to ensure that—

(i) all those who attend for this purpose remain inside the vehicle in which they arrived at the premises for the duration of the film or live concert or performance; and

(ii) the occupants of each vehicle are members of the same household.”.

(3) In regulation 5(2) (restrictions on movement), after paragraph (p), insert—

“(q) to attend an outdoor film or live music concert or theatre performance.”.

(4) In regulation 6 (restrictions on gatherings), after paragraph (d), insert—

“(e) to attend an outdoor film or live music concert or theatre performance.”.

Savings

3.  Regulations 8 and 9 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 continue to have effect in relation to any offence committed, or reasonably believed to have been committed, before these Regulations came into operation as if the amendments set out in regulation 2 had not been made.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 5.00 p.m. on 21st May 2020

(L.S.)

Robin Swann

Minister of Health

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

Regulation 3 is amended, to allow a business listed in Part 2 of Schedule 2 to provide a drive-in cinema or live entertainment event for people attending on the premises in vehicles, with consequential amendments to regulations 5 and 6.

No impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.

(1)

Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)

(2)

1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7)

(3)

S.R. 2020 No. 55, as amended by S.R. 2020 Nos. 71, 82 and 84