Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2020 No. 203

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 12) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Made

25th September 2020

Coming into operation

at 4.00 a.m. on 26th September 2020

The Department of Health(1) makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 25B and 25F(2) of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967(2).

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Amendment No. 12) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation at 4.00 am on 26th September 2020.

(2) In these Regulations, "the principal Regulations" means the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020(3).

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

2.-(1) The principal Regulations are amended in accordance with regulations 3 to 6.

(2) In relation to any person who arrived in Northern Ireland on or after 10th July 2020 and before the coming into operation of any amendment made by regulation 5 the principal Regulations apply as if that amendment had not been made.

Amendments to regulation 4

3.  In regulation 4(12) (requirement to self-isolate)-

(a) in sub-paragraph (b), at the end insert "of that Schedule";

(b) after sub-paragraph (b) insert-

"(ba) in paragraph 28A of Schedule 2, paragraph (2) does not require P to remain in isolation in the circumstances set out in paragraph 28A of that Schedule,";

(c) after sub-paragraph (cb), insert-

"(cc) in paragraph 41 of Schedule 2, paragraph (2) does not require P to remain in isolation in the circumstances set out in paragraph 41 of that Schedule,".

Amendments to Schedule 2

4.  In Schedule 2 (Persons not required to comply with regulation 3 or 4)-

(a) after paragraph 28 insert-

"28A.-(1) Any of the following-

(a) an elite sportsperson ("P") who-

(i) before travelling to the United Kingdom has made arrangements with a business in the United Kingdom to be subject to one or more medical examinations to help that business determine whether to offer that sportsperson a contract to participate in elite sports events on behalf of that business,

(ii) is in possession of written confirmation of the arrangements from the business,

(iii) has travelled to the United Kingdom to be subject to one or more such examinations, and

(iv) is attending a place to be subject to an examination or is travelling directly-

(aa) between that place and the place where they are self-isolating, or

(bb) between that place and any other place at which another examination will be carried out,

(b) a person who-

(i) is accompanying P for the purpose of providing necessary care or support to P in the circumstances referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a)(iv), or

(ii) is travelling, for the purpose of so accompanying P, directly-

(aa) between the place where they are self-isolating and the place at which an examination will be carried out, or

(bb) between a place at which an examination will be carried out and another such place,

where that person has travelled to the United Kingdom for that purpose and is in possession of the confirmation referred to in sub-paragraph (1)(a)(ii) or a copy of it.

(2) For the purposes of this paragraph-

(a) "elite sportsperson" means an individual who derives a living from competing in a sport,

(b) references to a place where an individual is self-isolating are to a place where that individual is required to self-isolate, or permitted to be at, by virtue of regulation 4.";

(b) in paragraph 39-

(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for "or an international ancillary sportsperson" substitute ", an international ancillary sportsperson or a multinational ancillary sportsperson";

(ii) in sub-paragraph (2)-

(aa) in the definition of "domestic elite sportsperson", in sub-paragraph (d)(i), after "participate in" insert "training for or to compete in";

(bb) after the definition of "international elite sportsperson" insert-

""multinational ancillary sportsperson" is an individual who-

(a)

provides medical or technical support to a person in the United Kingdom who is an elite athlete within the meaning of paragraph (aa) of the definition of "domestic elite sportsperson",

(b)

is in Northern Ireland, after departing from or transiting through a non-exempt country or territory,

(c)

has returned to Northern Ireland with the intention of continuing to provide medical or technical support to an elite athlete within the meaning of paragraph (aa) of the definition of "domestic elite sportsperson", and

(d)

has departed from or transited through the non-exempt country or territory in order to provide medical or technical support, other than as a domestic ancillary sportsperson, to a sportsperson who-

(i)

derives a living from competing in a sport,

(ii)

is a senior representative nominated by a relevant sporting body,

(iii)

is a member of the senior training squad for a relevant sporting body, or

(iv)

is aged 16 or above and on an elite development pathway;";

(iii) in sub-paragraph (3), in the words before sub-paragraph (a), omit "the definitions of "international elite sportsperson" and "domestic elite sportsperson", in";

(c) in paragraph 40-

(i) in sub-paragraph (1), for "and high end TV production" substitute ", advertising production or high end TV production",

(ii) in sub-paragraph 2(a), omit "and",

(iii) in sub-paragraph 2(b), after "Corporation Tax Act 2009", insert-

"(c) a person is engaged in advertising production if that person is employed, or contracted, to make an audiovisual advertisement as-

(i) a director,

(ii) an actor, or

(iii) a director of photography."

(d) after paragraph 40, insert-

"41.-(1) A person who is undertaking activities necessary for the participation of the organisation they represent in the 4th National Lottery Licence Competition, during such activities and any necessary ancillary travel.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1), the "4th National Lottery Licence Competition" is the competition, run by the Gambling Commission, for the licence to run the National Lottery provided for by section 5 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993(4).".

Amendments to Schedule 3

5.  In Schedule 3 (Exempt countries, territories and parts of countries or territories) omit "Curaçao", "Denmark", "Iceland" and "Slovakia".

Amendments to Schedule 4

6.  In Schedule 4 (Specified competitions)-

(a) omit the following entries-

(i) "European Tour Golf – Alfred Dunhill Links Championship";

(ii) "European Tour Golf – United Kingdom Championship";

(iv) "Manchester Open 2020 Squash Tournament";

(v) "Matchroom Fight Camp - International Heavyweight Contest";

(vi) "Matchroom Fight Camp - World Boxing Council World Heavy Title";

(vii) "Matchroom Fight Camp - World Boxing Organisation World Female Light Title";

(viii) "St Leger Festival horse-racing";

(ix) "The Northern Ireland Golf Open Tournament (European Challenge Tour supported by the R&A)";

(b) at the end insert-

"World Snooker Tour - German Masters Qualifiers

World Snooker Tour - Northern Ireland Open

World Snooker Tour - UK Championships

World Snooker Tour - Scottish Open

World Snooker Tour - World Grand Prix

Professional Darts Corporation – Boylesports Grand Slam of Darts

Professional Darts Corporation – Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals

Professional Darts Corporation – William Hill World Darts Championship

Professional Darts Corporation – Boylesports World Grand Prix

England Roses v Jamaica Sunshine Girls - Vitality International Netball Series

International Championship Boxing - Queensberry Promotions

European Tour - Scottish Championship

Motorsport UK - British Kart Championships

Motorsport UK – British Rallycross Championships

British Touring Car Championships

British Rallycross Championships

British GT Championship & BRDC F3 Championship

Goodwood Speed Week

Formula Ford Festival Brands Hatch".

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 25th September 2020

(L.S.)

Lourda Geoghegan

A senior officer of the Department of Health

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 ("The principal Regulations"), to:

(a) create a new exemption from the requirement to self-isolate for people undertaking activities necessary for the participation of the organisation they represent in the 4th National Lottery Licence Competition,

(b) create a new exemption from the requirement to self-isolate for elite sportspersons travelling to the United Kingdom for medical examinations and people accompanying them in order to provide necessary care and support,

(c) expand the exemption from the requirement to self-isolate for people engaged in film and high end TV production so that it also applies to certain advertising production professionals, and

(d) amend the exemption from the requirement to self-isolate for elite sportspersons so that it applies to domestic elite sportspersons who have been to non-exempt countries or territories for the purposes of training and multinational ancillary sportspersons.

Curaçao, Denmark, Iceland and Slovakia are omitted from the list of countries and territories in Schedule 3 to the principal Regulations exempt from the requirement in regulation 4 of those Regulations to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival in Northern Ireland.

Passengers are not required to self-isolate on arrival in Northern Ireland if, during the 14 days preceding their arrival, they have only been in or transited through exempt countries or territories, or exempt parts of countries or territories. Passengers who have been in or transited through a non-exempt country or territory, or a non-exempt part of a country or territory, must self-isolate until 14 days have elapsed since the day after they last left a non-exempt country or territory, or a non-exempt part of a country or territory. The changes to Schedule 3 will not affect passengers who arrive in Northern Ireland before 4.00 a.m. on 26th September 2020.

The list of specified competition in Schedule 4 to the principal Regulations is amended, which is relevant to the exemption from the requirement to self-isolate for elite sportspersons.

No impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.

(1)

Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)

(2)

1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7)

(3)

S.R. 2020 No. 90 as amended by S.R. 2020 Nos. 138, 140, 154, 155, 163, 168, 179, 185, 189, 193, 194 and 200

(4)

1993 c.39. Relevant amendments to section 5 are made by virtue of the National Lottery Act 1998 (c.22), section 1(5), Schedule 1, paragraph 4; and by the National Lottery Act 2006 (c.23), section 3(b)