The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 21) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Citation and commencement

19.  At the beginning of Part 4 (Restrictions on Movement etc.) insert—

“Social Distancing

13.— (1) A person (P) responsible for the organisation or operation of office premises must take reasonable measures to ensure that P’s servants and agents and visitors to the premises comply with social distancing measures at all times.

(2) “Social distancing measures” means measures for the purpose of minimising the risk of exposure to, or spread of, coronavirus and includes ensuring that—

(a) P’s servants, agents and visitors to the premises are provided with information on how to minimise the risk of exposure to and the spread of coronavirus;

(b) P’s servants, agents and visitors to the premises maintain a distance of 2 metres from each other (unless members of the same household) and that they are assisted in doing so by alteration of the layout of the premises, managing and controlling the use of points of entry, exit and shared facilities (such as toilets) and managing and controlling the means of moving from one part of the premises to another;

(c) persons waiting to enter the premises maintain a distance of 2 metres from each other (unless members of the same household); and

(d) the premises are regularly cleaned, hygiene is maintained and points or places which are likely to be used frequently by servants, agents and visitors (such as entry barriers and gates and card terminals) are regularly sanitised.

(3) Where it is not reasonably practicable for a social distance of 2 metres to be maintained between persons, P must take reasonable steps to ensure that—

(a) close face to face contact between persons is limited;

(b) barriers or screens are installed and maintained; and

(c) personal protective equipment is used where appropriate and is made readily available.”