2020 No. 71
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
Made
Laid before the Assembly
Coming into operation
The Department of Health F1, 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 F2.
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.
1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7)
Citation and commencementI11
These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation at 11.00 p.m. on 24th April 2020.
Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020I22
1
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 F3 are amended as follows.
2
In regulation 4(8) (further restrictions and closures during the emergency period), omit the words “or burial ground” in both places and “or burials”.
3
After regulation 4, insert—
Restriction applicable to burial grounds4A
During the emergency period, a person who is responsible for a burial ground must take all reasonable measures to ensure that a distance of at least two metres is maintained between every person at the burial ground (except between members of the same household).
4
In regulation 5 (restrictions on movement)—
a
in paragraph (2), after sub-paragraph (g), insert—
ga
to visit a burial ground to pay respects to a member of the person's household, family member or friend;
b
after paragraph (4), insert—
5
A person who leaves the place where they are living does not do so with reasonable excuse under paragraph (2)(b) unless any associated travel that is not in itself exercise is reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances including the nature of the exercise to be taken.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 6.30 p.m. on 24th April 2020
Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)