The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

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 expiration of 28 days beginning with the day on which they are made.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2022 No. 6

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Made

at 4.00 p.m. on 14th January 2022

Laid before the Assembly

at 5.00 p.m. on 14th January 2022

Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1(2)

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.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022.

(2) These regulations come into operation at the time they are made.

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

2.  The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021(3) are amended in accordance with Regulations 3 to 4.

3.  In Regulations 4(2)(a)(i) for “accessing a table” substitute “accessing a seat”.

4.  For Regulation 11 substitute—

“11.— (1) A person must not attend, organise or operate an indoor standing event.

(2) “Indoor standing event” means a gathering which–

(a) takes place indoors, and

(b) consists of persons (not including staff of the venue, performers at the venue or organisers, speakers or presenters) who are not all seated.

(3) This Regulation does not apply to an event which is–

(a) a funeral, marriage ceremony or a civil partnership registration,

(b) a reception or gathering which relates to a funeral, marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration, or

(c) communal religious worship at a place of worship or communal activity at a place where beliefs are practiced.”

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 4.00 pm on 14th January 2022

(L.S.)

Sir Michael McBride

Chief Medical Officer

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 to make a number of technical amendments.

No regulatory 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 2021 No. 93 as amended by S.R. 2021 Nos. 97, 109, 117, 130, 141, 151, 172, 197, 199, 201, 217,220, 224, 233, 251, 276, 283, 292, 334 and 349