The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Relaxation of requirement for eligible non-red list arrival to book and undertake tests

7.—(1) Regulation 8 (requirement to book and undertake tests) is amended as follows—

(a) after paragraph (7) insert—

“(7A) Where a test generates an inconclusive result, P must, as soon as practicable after receiving the inconclusive result, undertake a test (“a replacement test”) complying with the requirements of the test which produced the inconclusive result.”,

(b) in paragraph (9), after “including” insert “, for red list arrivals,”,

(c) in paragraph (11), in the definition of testing package—

(i) in sub-paragraph (a) omit “, or a non-eligible non-red list arrival”,

(ii) after sub-paragraph (a) insert—

“(ab) in respect of a non-eligible non-red list arrival, a booking for a day 2 test”.

(2) Schedule 6 (requirement to book and undertake tests (mandatory testing after arrival in Northern Ireland)) is amended as follows—

(a) in paragraph 1(1), in the definition of “relevant isolation provisions”, omit sub-paragraph (b),

(b) in paragraph 2—

(i) in the heading, omit “and non-eligible non-red list”,

(ii) omit sub-paragraph (1)(b),

(c) in paragraph 4—

(i) in the heading, omit “and non-eligible non-red list”,

(ii) omit sub-paragraph (1)(b),

(d) after paragraph 4 insert—

“Consequences of test results (non-eligible non-red list arrivals)

4A.— (1) This paragraph applies in respect of non-eligible non-red list arrivals.

(2) The Department may issue guidance, and amend or extend existing guidance, on the course of action to be followed in consequence of a test result.

(3) The power under sub-paragraph (2) is without prejudice to any other power of the Department to issue guidance in respect of coronavirus.”.

(e) in paragraph 8(3)(c)(ii) for “to self-isolate, or are self-isolating, in accordance with regulations 10 to 13 (if different from their home address)” substitute “to stay during the period of 10 days beginning on the day after the date of their arrival in the United Kingdom (if different from their home address)”,

(f) in paragraph 9(3), for the text from “Form A” to the end of sub-paragraph (3) substitute—

“Form A: negative test result

Your coronavirus (COVID-19) test result is negative. It’s likely you were not infectious when the test was done.

You should self-isolate again if you get symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) – get an NHS coronavirus (COVID-19) test from www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test and self-isolate until you get the results.

For advice on when you might need to self-isolate and what to do, go to https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-self-isolating-and-close-contacts.

Form B: positive test result

Your coronavirus test result is positive. This means you probably have the virus. You should self-isolate.

For more information on self-isolating as an international arrival, go to https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/coronavirus-covid-19/travel-advice-and-guidance.

You may be contacted for contact tracing and to check that you are self-isolating.

You should not travel, including to leave the UK, during self-isolation.

Contact 111 if you need medical help. In an emergency dial 999.

Form C: unclear test result

Your coronavirus test result is unclear. It is not possible to say if you had the virus when the test was done.

You should take another test or self-isolate for 10 days from the day after your test date.

You may be contacted to check that you are self-isolating.”