The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 3) 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. 84

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Made

at 7.30 p.m. on 19th May 2020

Laid before the Assembly

at 9.00 a.m. on 20th May 2020

Coming into operation

at 11.00 p.m. on 19th 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. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation at 11.00 p.m. on 19th 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 4 (further restrictions and closures during the emergency period), after paragraph (6)(d), insert—

“(e) for acts of private worship;

(f) to broadcast (by way of loudspeaker or radio) an act of worship to worshippers who are present in a vehicle parked on the premises, subject to the person responsible for the place of worship 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 service; and

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

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

“(n) to attend a place of worship for an act of private worship, or to attend an act of worship which is being broadcast or to attend or participate in a marriage ceremony, in accordance with regulation 4(6)(d);

(o) to take part in an outdoor activity;

(p) to take part in an outdoor gathering, in accordance with regulation 6A.”.

(4) In regulation 6 (restrictions on gatherings)—

(a) in place of “During the emergency period,”, substitute “Subject to regulation 6A, during the emergency period,”;

(b) in paragraph (c), after “in accordance with regulation 4(6)(d)”, insert “or a place of worship, in accordance with regulation 4(6)(f)”.

(5) After regulation 6, insert—

“Restrictions on outdoor gatherings

6A.   During the emergency period, a person may participate in an outdoor gathering consisting of—

(i) up to six people who are not members of the same household; or

(ii) any number of members of the same household.”.

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 7.30 p.m. on 19th 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 4 is further amended, to include the opening of a place of worship for acts of private worship and the broadcast of services to people attending on the premises, with consequential amendments to regulations 5 and 6. Regulation 5 is further amended, to include the need to take part in an outdoor activity or an outdoor gathering. Regulation 6A is inserted to enable a person to participate in an outdoor gathering consisting of up to six people who are not members of the same household.

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 and 82