Regulations made by the Department of Health and laid before the Assembly under section 25Q (Emergency procedure) of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, for approval of the Assembly before the expiration of 28 days beginning with the day on which they are made.

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2020 No. 274

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 16) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Made

at 8.00 p.m. on 19th November 2020

Laid before the Assembly

at 9.00 a.m. on 20th November 2020

Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1(2)

The Department of Health(1), 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(2).

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.

Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 16) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

(2) These Regulations come into operation at the time and on the date they are made.

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

2.-(1) The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020(3) are amended in accordance with this regulation.

(2) In regulation 4E(4), for "a relevant person" substitute "a responsible person".

(3) In paragraph 7 of schedule 2, omit sub-paragraph (4).

(4) In paragraph 7A of schedule 2, after sub-paragraph (5) insert-

"(6) This paragraph shall not apply to close contact services for the purpose of film or television production.".

(5) In sub-paragraph 8(1A) of schedule 2, after head (b) insert-

"(ba) must ensure that no more than six persons (not including children aged 12 or under) are seated at any one table (unless those seated at a table comprise a single household), and persons from no more than two households are seated at any one table;".

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 8.00 pm on 19th November 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, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020. Regulation 2(5) limits the number of persons at a table in unlicenced premises selling food and drink. The remaining provisions make minor corrections to the regulations.

No regulatory 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.150 as amended by S.R. 2020 Nos. 170, 187, 195, 198, 202, 204, 210, 213, 224, 225, 232, 239, 250, 255 and 256