Disapplication by the Secretary of State
8.—(1) The Secretary of State may, for the purposes set out in paragraph (2), by direction disapply any requirement under regulation 3(1) or 6(1) in relation to specified premises, a specified event or a specified gathering.
(2) The Secretary of State may only make a direction under paragraph (1) for the purposes of a research programme concerned with the provision of an appropriate public health response to the incidence and spread of coronavirus in England.
(3) Before making or revoking any direction under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State must—
(a)consult the Chief Medical Officer (“CMO”) or one of the Deputy Chief Medical Officers (“DCMO”) of the Department of Health and Social Care;
(b)have regard to any advice given by the CMO or DCMO to the Secretary of State.
(4) A direction referred to in paragraph (1)—
(a)is to be made by being published online, and
(b)must, as soon as reasonably practicable after it is made, also be published in the London Gazette.
(5) In this regulation, “specified” means specified in the direction.