2020 No. 187
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
Made
Laid before the Assembly
Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1
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, commencement and interpretation1
1
These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.
2
These Regulations come into operation at the time these Regulations are made.
Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 20202
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 F3 are amended in accordance with regulations 3 and 4.
3
In regulation 5 (restrictions on gatherings)—
a
in paragraph 5(1) for “paragraphs (2) to (5)” substitute “
paragraphs (2) to (7)
”
and for “thirty” substitute “
fifteen
”
;
b
in paragraph 5(2), after “private dwelling” insert “
or to a funeral
”
;
c
after paragraph 5(5) insert—
6
A person attending a funeral or responsible for organising or operating a funeral shall comply with the guidance on funerals issued by the Department of Health.
7
Regulation 8 (offences and penalties) does not apply to a contravention of the requirement in paragraph (6).
4
In regulation 6 (restrictions on gatherings: private dwellings)—
a
in paragraph 6(1) for “A person” substitute “
Subject to paragraph (6) a person
”
and for “thirty” substitute “
fifteen
”
;
b
in paragraph 6(2) for “paragraphs (3) and (4)” substitute “
paragraphs (3), to (6)
”
;
c
in paragraphs 6(2) and 6(3) for “ten” substitute “
six
”
at each place where it appears and for “four” substitute “
two
”
;
d
after paragraph 6(4), insert—
5
a
Paragraph (2) does not apply where the gathering is for the purpose of a marriage or a civil partnership where a party to the marriage or civil partnership is seriously ill and death in consequence of that illness can reasonably be expected within six months of the date of the ceremony;
b
in a case referred to in subparagraph 5(a) an indoor gathering in a private dwelling may consist of up to ten persons including the participants and officiant;
6
a
Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply where the gathering is for the purpose of a funeral or an event associated with a funeral;
b
in a case referred to in subparagraph 6(a) a person attending, or a person responsible for organising or operating, the funeral or event associated with a funeral shall comply with the guidance on funerals issued by the Department of Health;
c
Regulation 8 (offences and penalties) does not apply to a contravention of the requirement in subparagraph (6)(b).
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 5.45 pm on 25th August 2020
Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)