The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020

Restriction on gatherings in public places E+W

2.—(1) No person may, without a reasonable excuse, participate in a gathering which—

(a) takes place anywhere other than—

(i) in a private dwelling, or

(ii) in holiday or travel accommodation, and

(b) consists of more than 4 people, not including—

(i) any children under the age of 11, or

(ii) the carer of a person who is participating in the gathering.

(2) But a person may participate in such a gathering which—

(a) takes place indoors or in any part of regulated premises that is outdoors, if all the persons participating in the gathering are members of the same household, or

(b) takes place outdoors other than in regulated premises, if all the persons participating in the gathering are—

(i) members of the same household, or

(ii) members of the same extended household.

(3) No person may, without a reasonable excuse, participate in a gathering which takes place in holiday or travel accommodation unless all the persons participating in the gathering are members of the same household.

(4) For the purposes of sub-paragraphs (1) and (3), a person has a reasonable excuse if—

(a) the person is participating in the gathering for a purpose that is reasonably necessary and there is no reasonably practicable alternative, or

(b) one of the circumstances in sub-paragraph (6) applies.

(5) Examples of purposes for which it may be reasonably necessary for a person to participate in a gathering include—

(a) obtaining or providing medical assistance, or accessing veterinary services;

(b) working or providing voluntary or charitable services;

(c) meeting a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;

(d) providing, receiving or accessing care or assistance, including childcare or relevant personal care within the meaning of paragraph 7(3B) of Schedule 4 to the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, where the person receiving the care is a vulnerable person;

(e) in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, continuing existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child;

(f) moving home;

(g) undertaking activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting, or rental of residential property;

(h) accessing or receiving public services;

(i) accessing or receiving educational services.

(6) The circumstances referred to in sub-paragraph (4)(b) are that the person is—

(a) providing or receiving emergency assistance;

(b) avoiding illness, injury or other risk of harm;

(c) attending a solemnisation of a marriage, formation of a civil partnership or alternative wedding ceremony—

(i) as a party to the marriage, civil partnership or alternative wedding,

(ii) if invited to attend, or

(iii) as the carer of a person attending;

(d) attending a funeral—

(i) as a person responsible for arranging the funeral,

(ii) if invited by a person responsible for arranging the funeral, or

(iii) as the carer of a person attending;

(e) participating in a gathering of no more than 15 people at regulated premises, not counting persons under the age of 11 or persons working at the premises, to—

(i) celebrate a solemnisation of a marriage, formation of a civil partnership or alternative wedding ceremony that takes place on or after 22 August 2020;

(ii) celebrate the life of a deceased person whose funeral is held on or after 22 August 2020;

(f) attending a place of worship;

(g) an elite athlete and is training or competing;

(h) providing coaching or other support to an elite athlete, or providing support at an elite sporting event;

(i) participating in or facilitating an indoor organised activity at which—

(i) no more than 15 people are in attendance, not counting persons under the age of 11 or persons working, or providing voluntary services, as part of the activity, and

(ii) no alcohol is consumed;

(j) participating in or facilitating an outdoor organised activity at which—

(i) no more than 30 people are in attendance, not counting persons under the age of 11 or persons working, or providing voluntary services, as part of the activity, and

(ii) no alcohol is consumed;

(k) participating in or facilitating an organised activity for the development or well-being of children (including sports, music and other recreational activities such as those provided for children outside of school hours and during school holidays).

(7) This paragraph does not apply to a person who is homeless.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 3 para. 2 in force at 20.12.2020, see reg. 1(3)