The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Public Health Information to Travellers) (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022

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Welsh Statutory Instruments

2022 No. 16 (W. 8)

Public Health, Wales

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Public Health Information to Travellers) (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022

Made

at 7.11 p.m. on 6 January 2022

Laid before Senedd Cymru

at 11 a.m. on 7 January 2022

Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1

The Welsh Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 45B, 45F(2) and 45P(2) of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984(1), make the following Regulations.

PART 1E+WGeneral

Title and coming into forceE+W

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Public Health Information to Travellers) (Wales) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022.

(2) Regulations 2, 4, 9, 10, 14 and 15 come into force at 4.00 a.m. on 7 January 2022.

(3) Regulations 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 come into force at 4.00 a.m. on 9 January 2022.

(4) Regulation 3 comes into force at 4.00 a.m. on 10 January 2022.

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 1 in force at 7.1.2022 at 4.00 a.m., see reg. 1(2)

PART 2E+WAmendments to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020

2.  The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020(2) are amended in accordance with this Part.E+W

Commencement Information

I2Reg. 2 in force at 7.1.2022 at 4.00 a.m., see reg. 1(2)

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Amendment of regulation 6AE+W

4.  In regulation 6A (requirement to possess notification of a negative test result), in paragraph (4), at the end insert—

(f)a person who is a regulation 2A traveller.

Commencement Information

I4Reg. 4 in force at 7.1.2022 at 4.00 a.m., see reg. 1(2)

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Amendments of regulation 9E+W

9.  In regulation 9 (isolation requirements: exemptions) in paragraph 2, at the end insert—

(f)a child who is under the age of 5 upon arrival in Wales;

(g)a regulation 2A traveller.

Commencement Information

I9Reg. 9 in force at 7.1.2022 at 4.00 a.m., see reg. 1(2)

Amendment of regulation 12E+W

10.  For regulation 12 (last day of isolation), substitute—

12.  For the purposes of regulations 7, 8 and 10, the last day of P’s isolation is the last day of the period of 10 days beginning with the day after the day on which P was last in a non-exempt country.

Commencement Information

I10Reg. 10 in force at 7.1.2022 at 4.00 a.m., see reg. 1(2)

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PART 3E+WAmendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Persons Travelling to Wales etc.) Regulations 2020

14.  The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Persons Travelling to Wales etc.) Regulations 2020(3) are amended as follows.E+W

Commencement Information

I14Reg. 14 in force at 7.1.2022 at 4.00 a.m., see reg. 1(2)

Substitution of the ScheduleE+W

15.  For the Schedule substitute—

Regulations 3, 3A and 4

SCHEDULEE+W

Part 1E+W

The information to be provided for the purposes of regulations 3(2)(a)(i), 3(2)(b)(i), 3(2)(c)(i), 3A(4)(b)(i) and 3A(4)(c) is—

“Essential information to enter the UK from overseasE+W

All persons arriving in the UK must fill in a Passenger Locator Form up to 48 hours before arrival. You must declare all countries you have visited in the 10 days before arrival.

Before departure check if any of the countries you have visited are on the red list.

If you have visited a country on the red list you must book a managed quarantine hotel.

You can only enter if you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK. You must enter through a designated port of arrival.

If you have not visited any countries on the red list, check if you qualify as fully vaccinated.

If you qualify as fully vaccinated you must book a test to take on or before day 2.

If you do not qualify as fully vaccinated you must:

  • provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 2 days of departure to the UK,

  • make plans to quarantine in private accommodation for 10 full days after arrival (or full duration of stay if less than 10 days), and

  • book tests to take on day 2 and day 8 of quarantine.

These measures apply to all persons (including UK nationals and residents) arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area comprising the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. The British Overseas Territories are not in the Common Travel Area. Public health requirements may vary depending upon which nation of the UK you are staying in.

England: https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-advice

Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine

Wales:https://gov.wales/arriving-wales-overseas

Failure to comply with these measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. There are a limited set of exemptions from these measures. You may be fined if you fraudulently claim an exemption”

Part 2E+W

The statement to be provided for the purposes of regulation 4 is—

(a)Welsh language version—

“Dyma neges iechyd y cyhoedd ar ran asiantaethau iechyd y cyhoedd y Deyrnas Unedig.

Os ydych wedi eich brechu’n llawn neu’n bodloni’r meini prawf cymhwystra mewn ffordd arall, rhaid i chi gymryd prawf ar neu cyn diwrnod 2 ar ôl i chi gyrraedd. Rhaid i chi hunanynysu wrth gyrraedd a dim ond os yw canlyniad y prawf yn negyddol y caniateir i chi adael yr hunanynysiad.

Os nad ydych wedi eich brechu’n llawn neu os nad ydych yn bodloni’r meini prawf cymhwystra, rhaid i chi hunanynysu am 10 niwrnod a chymryd prawf ar ddiwrnod 8 ar ôl i chi gyrraedd.

Os ydych wedi bod mewn unrhyw wledydd ar y rhestr goch o fewn y 10 niwrnod blaenorol, rhaid i chi fynd i gwarantin mewn cyfleuster cwarantin a reolir am 10 niwrnod.

Symptomau’r coronafeirws yw peswch cyson newydd, tymheredd uchel neu golli eich synnwyr blasu neu arogli arferol, neu newid yn eich synnwyr blasu neu arogli arferol. Os ydych yn profi unrhyw un o’r symptomau hyn, ni waeth pa mor ysgafn ydynt, fe’ch cynghorir i wneud eich hunan yn hysbys i’r criw.

Dilynwch y canllawiau Iechyd y Cyhoedd ar gyfer yr ardal yr ydych yn byw ynddi neu’n teithio ynddi. Ewch i gov.uk/coronavirus i gael rhagor o gyngor.”;

(b)English language version—

“The following is a public health message on behalf of the UK’s public health agencies.

If you are fully vaccinated or otherwise meet the eligibility criteria, you must take a test on or before day 2 after you arrive. You must self-isolate on arrival and may only leave self-isolation if the result of the test is negative.

If you are not fully vaccinated or do not meet the eligibility criteria, you must self-isolate for 10 days and take a test on day 8 after you arrive.

If you have been in any countries on the red list within the previous 10 days, you must quarantine in a managed quarantine facility for 10 days.

The symptoms of coronavirus are a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell. If you experience any of these symptoms, however mild, you are advised to make yourself known to the crew.

Please follow Public Health guidance for the area you are living or travelling in. Visit gov.uk/coronavirus for more advice.”;

(c)the statement in paragraph (a) or (b) translated into an officially recognised language of the country of departure.”

Commencement Information

I15Reg. 15 in force at 7.1.2022 at 4.00 a.m., see reg. 1(2)

Eluned Morgan

Minister for Health and Social Services, one of the Welsh Ministers

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/574 (W. 132)) (“the International Travel Regulations”) and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Persons Travelling to Wales etc.) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/595 (W. 136) (“the Public Health Information Regulations”).

Part 2 of these Regulations amends the International Travel Regulations.

The International Travel Regulations impose requirements on persons entering Wales after having been abroad. They include requirements for persons arriving in Wales to book and undertake coronavirus tests and to isolate for a period determined in accordance with those Regulations. The requirements imposed by the International Travel Regulations are subject to exceptions, and certain categories of person are exempt from having to comply. The International Travel Regulations also make specific provisions for “regulation 2A travellers”, which includes individuals who have been fully vaccinated in prescribed countries and territories.

Regulation 3 of these Regulations makes an amendment to regulation 2A (exemptions for vaccinated travellers and others) of the International Travel Regulations to extend the recognition of vaccinations and vaccine certificates to further countries and territories.

Regulation 4 of these Regulations makes an amendment to regulation 6A (requirement to possess notification of a negative test result) of the International Travel Regulations to remove the requirement for pre-departure testing for regulation 2A travellers.

Regulation 5 of these Regulations amends regulation 6AB (requirement to book and undertake tests) of the International Travel Regulations so as to enable regulation 2A travellers to use a lateral flow device (“LFD”) tests for day 2 tests.

Regulation 6 of these Regulations makes amendments to regulation 6DB (requirement to isolate on failure to take tests: regulation 2A travellers) of the International Travel Regulations to provide that the isolation requirements shall apply to a regulation 2A traveller that fails to take a day 2 test.

Regulation 7 of these Regulations makes amendments to regulation 6E (consequences of a positive test result) of the International Travel Regulations to to insert provision requiring a person to undertake a confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) test where they receive a positive test result on a LFD test, as well as containing provision on isolation requirements following test results.

Regulation 8 of these Regulations makes amendments to regulation 6HB (consequences of receiving inconclusive test result: regulation 2A travellers) of the International Travel Regulations to provide that the isolation requirements apply to a regulation 2A traveller that has received an inconclusive test result.

Regulation 9 of these Regulations makes amendments to regulation 9 (isolation requirements: exemptions) to remove the requirement to isolate for children that are under the age of 5 upon arrival in Wales and regulation 2A travellers.

Regulation 10 of these Regulations substitutes regulation 12 (last day of isolation) to provide that the last day of a person’s isolation is the last day of the period of 10 days beginning with the day after the day on which they were last in a non-exempt country or territory.

Regulation 11 of these Regulations makes amendments to regulation 14 (offences) to introduce an offence for failing to undertake a confirmatory PCR test.

Regulation 12 of these Regulations which makes amendments to regulation 16 (fixed penalty notices) in consequence of the introduction of an offence for failing to undertake a confirmatory PCR test.

Regulation 13 of these Regulations makes further provision in Schedule 1C (mandatory testing after arrival in Wales) in relation to the introduction of LFD testing, and to ensure that day 8 tests are taken no earlier than the end of seventh day of a person’s isolation.

Part 3 of these Regulations amends the Public Health Information Regulations.

The Public Health Information Regulations impose requirements on operators of international passenger services coming from outside the common travel area to an airport, heliport or seaport in Wales to provide passengers with specific public health information.

Regulation 15 of these Regulations amends the Public Health Information Regulations to update the information that operators are required to provide to passengers travelling to Wales in consequence of the amendments made to the International Travel Regulations.

There has been no regulatory impact assessment in relation to these Regulations due to the need to put them in place urgently to deal with a serious and imminent threat to public health.

(1)

1984 c. 22. Part 2A was inserted by section 129 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c. 14). The function of making regulations under Part 2A is conferred on “the appropriate Minister”. Under section 45T(6) of the 1984 Act the appropriate Minister as respects Wales, is the Welsh Ministers.

(2)

S.I. 2020/574 (W. 132), amended by S.I. 2020/595 (W. 136), S.I. 2020/714 (W. 160), S.I. 2020/726 (W. 163), S.I. 2020/804 (W. 177), S.I. 2020/817 (W. 179), S.I. 2020/840 (W. 185), S.I. 2020/868 (W. 190), S.I. 2020/886 (W. 196), S.I. 2020/917 (W. 205), S.I. 2020/942, S.I. 2020/944 (W. 210), S.I. 2020/962 (W. 216), S.I. 2020/981 (W. 220), S.I. 2020/1015 (W. 226), S.I. 2020/1042 (W. 231), S.I. 2020/1080 (W. 243), S.I. 2020/1098 (W. 249), S.I. 2020/1133 (W. 258), S.I. 2020/1165 (W. 263), S.I. 2020/1191 (W. 269), S.I. 2020/1223 (W. 277), S.I. 2020/1232 (W. 278), S.I. 2020/1237 (W. 279), S.I. 2020/1288 (W. 286), S.I. 2020/1329 (W. 295), S.I. 2020/1362 (W. 301), S.I. 2020/1477 (W. 316), S.I. 2020/1521 (W. 325), S.I. 2020/1602 (W. 332), S.I. 2020/1645 (W. 345), S.I. 2021/20 (W. 7), S.I. 2021/24 (W. 8), S.I. 2021/46 (W. 10), S.I. 2021/48 (W. 11), S.I. 2021/50 (W. 12), S.I. 2021/66 (W. 15), S.I. 2021/72 (W. 18), S.I. 2021/95 (W. 26), S.I. 2021/154 (W. 38), S.I. 2021/305 (W. 78), S.I. 2021/361 (W. 110), S.I. 2021/454 (W. 144), S.I. 2021/500 (W. 149), S.I. 2021/568 (W. 156), S.I. 2021/584 (W. 161), S.I. 2021/646 (W. 166), S.I. 2021/669 (W. 170), S.I. 2021/765 (W. 187), S.I. 2021/826 (W. 193), S.I. 2021/863 (W. 202), S.I. 2021/867 (W. 203), S.I. 2021/915 (W. 208), S.I. 2021/926 (W. 211), S.I. 2021/967 (W. 227), S.I. 2021/1063 (W. 250), S.I. 2021/1109 (W. 265), S.I. 2021/1126 (W. 273), S.I. 2021/1212 (W. 303), S.I. 2021/1321 (W. 336), S.I. 2021/1330 (W. 343), SI 2021/1342 (W. 346), S.I. 2021/1354 (W. 352), S.I. 2021/1366 (W. 361), S.I. 2021/1369 (W. 362), S.I. 2021/1433 (W. 371).