The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

12.  For Regulation 5 (Restrictions on gatherings) substitute—

“Restrictions on gatherings

5.— (1) This Regulation does not apply to a gathering at a private dwelling or to a sporting event.

(2) A gathering referred to in regulation 5A (a gathering of 30 or more persons in public or private with or without amplified music) falls to be dealt with under that regulation, and not this regulation, despite the fact that such a gathering may otherwise fall within this regulation.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), a person shall not organise, operate or participate in an outdoor or indoor gathering which consists of more than six persons from more than two households.

(4) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to a gathering which is one of the following, and which fulfils the conditions in paragraph (5)—

(a) (in a place of worship or a place where beliefs are practised) a wedding, civil partnership ceremony, funeral or act of worship or belief,

(b) (in any venue) a wedding or civil partnership ceremony (not including a reception),

(c) educational activity not in a school or institute of higher or further education, provided that it may not be delivered by distance learning and face to face delivery is essential,

(d) a gathering in a workplace, when it is not reasonably practicable for the duties of any person participating in the gathering to be carried out at that person’s private dwelling,

(e) educational activity in a school or institute of higher or further education, or

(f) a blood donation session or a vaccination session.

(5) The conditions referred to in paragraph (4) are that the person responsible for organising or operating the gathering—

(a) has carried out a risk assessment which meets the requirements of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006, whether or not that person is subject to those Regulations;

(b) takes all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus, including implementing the preventive and protective measures identified in the risk assessment undertaken in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) and complying with any relevant guidance issued by a Northern Ireland Department; and

(c) (in respect of a wedding, civil partnership ceremony or funeral), ensures that the number attending is no more than 25 persons including children and the celebrant, and complies with the duty in Regulation 4A (Visitor information).

(6) A person responsible for organising or operating a gathering referred to in paragraph (4) must, if requested to do so by a relevant person, provide to that relevant person a copy of the risk assessment referred to in subparagraph (5)(a) and an account of the measures referred to in subparagraph (5)(b) as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within twenty-four hours of the request.

(7) Paragraph (3) shall not apply to a gathering which arises for the purpose of enabling any person to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm, or to provide emergency or medical assistance to any person.

(8) A person attending a funeral or responsible for organising or operating a funeral shall comply with the guidance on funerals issued by the Department of Health.

(9) Regulation 8 (offences and penalties) does not apply to a contravention of the requirement in paragraph (8).

(10) A person (other than a person leading a service) entering or leaving a place of worship or a place where beliefs are practised, or being within such a place, must, unless there is a reasonable excuse, wear a face covering while doing so.

(11) Paragraph (10) shall not apply to a couple at a ceremony to solemnise their marriage or to form their civil partnership.

(12) In this Regulation “reasonable excuse” has the meaning given in regulation 5 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.”.