The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

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. 356

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Made

at 2.00 p.m. on 24th December 2020

Laid before the Assembly

at 2.00 p.m. on 24th December 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), 25C(6)(j) 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. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020.

(2) These Regulations come into operation at midnight on 25 December 2020.

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

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

3.  In regulation 1(1), at the appropriate place, insert—

““active period” means the period during which these Regulations are in operation;”

““elite athlete” has the meaning given in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020;”

““face covering” means a covering of any type which covers a person’s nose and mouth;”

““reasonable excuse” has the meaning given in regulation 5 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020;”

““sporting event” means a gathering for the purpose of exercise, competitive sport, recreational sport or sport training, and dance of any type shall be deemed to be a form of exercise or sport for the purposes of this schedule;”

““bed and breakfast accommodation”, “bunkhouse”, “guest accommodation”, “guesthouse”, “hostel” and “self-catering establishment” shall mean the premises of any establishment allocated a certificate under Article 13 of the Tourism (Northern Ireland) Order 1992:”

4.  In regulation 1(1), in the definition beginning “guesthouse”, “harbour terminal”, “hotel”, omit “guesthouse”.

5.  After Regulation 1(5) insert—

“(6) In relation to any premises of a business or members’ club selling or supplying food and drink or intoxicating liquor, an area adjacent to the premises where seating, tables or other facilities are made available for customers of the business or members’ club (whether or not by the business or members’ club) is to be treated as part of the premises.”

6.  In Regulation 3, for “at least once every 28 days, with the first review being carried out by 21 August 2020, save that the sixth review of these Regulations shall be carried out on or before 14 January 2021 and subsequent reviews at least once every 28 days thereafter” substitute “on or before 22 January 2021”.

7.  In Regulation 4, after “premises listed in” insert “paragraph 1 of”.

8.  Omit Regulations 4A, 4B, 4BA, 4C, and 4D.

9.  After Regulation 4 insert—

“Visitor Information

4A.— (1) A person to whom this Regulation applies must—

(a) (where visitor information is not provided in advance of a visit) obtain visitor information at the time of a visit;

(b) record visitor information in a filing system (which may be an electronic system) suitable for recording, storing and retrieving the information;

(c) retain visitor information for a period of 21 days beginning with the date on which the visit occurred; and

(d) destroy visitor information as soon as reasonably practicable after the expiry of the period in sub-paragraph (c) unless there is another basis outside these regulations on which the details may lawfully be retained.

(2) A person to whom this Regulation applies must provide visitor information to a relevant person as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event within 24 hours of a request, if so requested by that person for the purpose of—

(a) preventing a threat to public health resulting from the spread of infection or contamination with coronavirus; and

(b) monitoring the spread of infection or contamination with coronavirus or the incidence of coronavirus disease.

(3) In this regulation ”visitor information” means—

(a) the name and telephone number of each client and of each person over the age of 16 accompanying the client; and

(b) the date of their visit and arrival time.

Restrictions on non-essential retail businesses

4B.— (1) A person responsible for carrying on a retail business, which is not wholly or mainly a retail business listed in paragraph (2) of schedule 1, of offering goods for sale or for hire or providing a service must—

(a) cease to carry on that business or provide that service except by making deliveries in response to requests received by on-line communication, by telephone, by text message or by post (provided that no person attends the premises of the business to collect goods or avail of a service);

(b) close any premises which are not required to carry out its business or provide its services as permitted by sub-paragraph (a); and

(c) cease to admit any person to its premises who is not required to carry on its business or provide its service as permitted by sub-paragraph (a).

Restrictions on essential retail businesses

4C.— (1) A person responsible for carrying on a retail business, which is wholly or mainly a retail business listed in paragraph (2) of schedule 1, of offering goods for sale or for hire or providing a service must, in the period ending at 12.01am on 2 January 2021, cease to carry on that business or provide that service between the hours of 8.00p.m and 6.00a.m except by making deliveries of groceries only, or providing of groceries only for collection, by appointment in response to requests received by on-line communication, by telephone, by text message or by post.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to—

(a) (i) the sale or supply of fuel or compressed air by a petrol station, or

(ii) the sale of goods by a petrol station, provided that no customer enters the premises and any service or payment is made by way of a night hatch,

(b) pharmacies on the community pharmacy rota,

(c) ports, airports, train stations, bus stations and other transport services.

Restrictions on close contact services

4D.— (1) A person must not provide a service listed in schedule 2 (“a close contact service”) except as permitted by paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) A person may provide a close contact service for the purpose of film or television production.

(3) A person may provide a close contact service when that service is sport massage therapy or is ancillary to medical, health and social care services.

(4) A person providing a close contact service must wear, and ensure that a person receiving the service wears, a face covering unless—

(a) a person has a reasonable excuse not to do so, or

(b) it is necessary not to wear a face covering due to the nature of the service.

(5) A person providing a close contact service in accordance with paragraph (3) must comply with the duty in Regulation 4A (Visitor information).

Restrictions on licenced premises

4DA.— (1) A person responsible for carrying on a business or a members’ club which sells or provides food or drink (including intoxicating liquor) for consumption on the premises–

(a) must close any premises, or part of premises, in which food or drink (including intoxicating liquor) are consumed on the premises;

(b) must not sell or provide food or drink (including intoxicating liquor) for consumption on its premises; and

(c) may sell or provide food or drink (not including intoxicating liquor) for consumption off the premises between the hours of 6.00a.m and 8.00pm in the period ending at 00:01 on 2 January 2021, and thereafter in response to orders placed between the hours of 05.00a.m and 11.00pm.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not prohibit or prevent a hotel or guesthouse from selling alcohol for consumption on the premises until 8.00p.m each day in the period ending at 12.01a.m on 2 January 2021 provided that the consumption is by residents only, within the resident’s accommodation and not delivered to the resident’s accommodation in response to an order placed by the resident.

(3) Paragraph (1) shall not prohibit or prevent a hotel or guesthouse from selling or providing food or drink for consumption on the premises to its residents.

Restrictions on licenced premises

4DB.— (1) A person responsible for carrying on a business which sells or provides food or drink (not including intoxicating liquor) for consumption on the premises—

(a) must close any premises, or part of premises, in which food or drink are consumed on the premises;

(b) must not sell or provide food or drink for consumption on its premises; and

(c) may sell or provide food or drink for consumption off the premises between the hours of 6.00a.m and 8.00p.m in the period ending at 12.01a.m on 2 January 2021, and thereafter in response to orders placed between the hours of 5.00a.m and 11.00p.m.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), food or drink (not including intoxicating liquor) is not to be treated as being sold for consumption, or as consumed, on the premises if sold or provided—

(a) in a port, airport or motorway service station,

(b) on a ferry crossing which lasts or is expected to last three hours or more, or

(c) in a canteen in a workplace, school, prison, hospital, care home or military establishment.

(3) In a case to which paragraph (2)(a) or (2)(b) applies, a person responsible for carrying on a business which sells or provides food or drink must comply with the requirement in Regulation 4A.

Restrictions on off-licence businesses

4DC.— (1) A person responsible for carrying on a business which sells or provides intoxicating liquor for consumption off the premises may continue to do so only from 08:00 on Monday to Saturday, and from 10.00a.m on Sunday, until 8.00p.m on any day.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in an airport.

(3) A person referred to in paragraph (1) must sell or provide, or permit the sale or provision of, intoxicating liquor in accordance with this Regulation only in a manufacturer’s original sealed packaging.

Restrictions on take-away food businesses

4DD.   A person responsible for carrying on a business which sells food or drink (not including intoxicating liquor) for consumption off the premises may continue to do so between the hours of 6.00a.m and 8.00p.m in the period ending at 12.01a.m on 2 January 2021, and thereafter in response to orders placed between the hours of 5.00a.m and 11.p.m.

Restrictions on libraries

4DE.— (1) A person responsible for providing the service of a library must cease to provide that service, subject to subparagraph (2).

(2) Subparagraph (1) does not prevent the person responsible for providing the service of a library from doing so in response to orders or requests received on-line, or by telephone including by text message, by delivery of items or by providing items to visitors who enter the premises of the library only to collect those items.”

10.  In paragraph (2)(b) of Regulation 4E, omit “, excluding any area in such a place which is open to the public and where seating or tables are made available for the consumption of food and drink”.

11.  In Regulation 4E omit paragraph (2)(c).

12.  For Regulation 5 substitute–

“Restrictions on gatherings

5.— (1) This Regulation does not apply to a gathering at a private dwelling or to a sporting event.

(2) A gathering referred to in regulation 5A (a gathering of 30 or more persons in public or private with or without amplified music) falls to be dealt with under that regulation, and not this regulation, despite the fact that such a gathering may otherwise fall within this regulation.

(3) In the period ending at 12.01a.m on 2 January 2021, a person shall not operate or participate in an outdoor or indoor gathering between the hours of 8.00p.m and 6.00a.m, except for the purpose of exercise in a gathering which consists of members of only one household.

(4) Subject to paragraph (3), a person shall not organise, operate or participate in an outdoor or indoor gathering which consists of more than fifteen persons.

(5) Paragraph (4) shall not apply to a gathering which is-

(a) (in a place of worship) a wedding, civil partnership ceremony, funeral or act of worship,

(b) (in any venue) a wedding or civil partnership ceremony (not including a reception),

(c) educational activity not in a school or institute of higher or further education, provided that it may not be delivered by distance learning and face to face delivery is essential,

(d) a gathering in a workplace, when it is not reasonably practicable for the duties of any person participating in the gathering to be carried out at that person’s private dwelling,

(e) educational activity in a school or institute of higher or further education, or

(f) a blood donation session or a vaccination session, and which fulfils the conditions in paragraph (6).

(6) The conditions referred to in paragraph (5) are that the person responsible for organising or operating the gathering—

(a) has carried out a risk assessment which meets the requirements of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006, whether or not that person is subject to those Regulations;

(b) takes all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus, including implementing the preventive and protective measures identified in the risk assessment undertaken in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) and complying with any relevant guidance issued by a Northern Ireland Department; and

(c) (in respect of a wedding, civil partnership ceremony or funeral), ensures that the number attending is no more than 25 persons including children and the celebrant, and complies with the duty in Regulation 4A (Visitor information).

(7) A person responsible for organising or operating a gathering referred to in paragraph (5) must, if requested to do so by a relevant person, provide to that relevant person a copy of the risk assessment referred to in subparagraph (6)(a) and an account of the measures referred to in subparagraph (6)(b) as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within twenty-four hours of the request.

(8) Paragraph (4) shall not apply to a gathering which arises for the purpose of enabling any person to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm, or to provide emergency or medical assistance to any person.

(9) 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.

(10) Regulation 8 (offences and penalties) does not apply to a contravention of the requirement in paragraph (9).

(11) In the period commencing at 12.01a.m on 23 December 2020 and ending at 11.59p.m on 27 December 2020 paragraph (4) shall not apply to a gathering on one day only which is a Christmas linked household.

(12) A person (other than a person leading a service) entering or leaving a place of worship, or being within a place of worship, must, unless there is a reasonable excuse, wear a face covering while doing so.

(13) Paragraph (12) shall not apply to a couple at a ceremony to solemnise their marriage or to form their civil partnership.”

13.  After Regulation 5A insert-

“Restrictions on sporting events

5B.— (1) A person must not attend a sporting event as a spectator.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), a person must not organise, operate or participate in an indoor sporting event unless-

(a) all of the participating athletes are elite athletes; or

(b) the sporting event is for the purpose of physical education in or for a school or schools; or

(c) the participants consist of an individual and their carer or carers.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), a person must not organise, operate or participate in an outdoor sporting event unless-

(a) all of the participating athletes are elite athletes;

(b) the sporting event is for the purpose of physical education in or for a school or schools;

(c) all of the participants are members of one household or one linked household; or

(d) the participants consist of an individual and their carer or carers.

(4) A person must not organise, operate or participate in a sporting event in the period ending at 12.01a.m on 2 January 2021, with the exception of

(a) training by elite athletes between the hours of 6.00a.m and 8.00p.m,

(b) exercise taken by an individual and their carer or carers, or

(c) exercise taken together by members of one household or one linked household.

(5) A person must not organise, operate or participate in a professional league or professional competition that has not commenced prior to 18 December 2020; for the purposes of these Regulations a professional league or professional competition has commenced if fixtures have taken place.

Linked households

5C.— (1) A household (“the first household”) may choose to be linked with one other household (“the second household”), provided that—

(a) neither the first household nor the second household are linked with any other household for the purpose of these regulations, and

(b) all the adult members of each household agree.

(2) The first and second households are a “linked household” in relation to each other.

(3) Once the first and second households have ceased being linked households, neither the first household nor the second household may be linked with any other household unless it is reasonable to do so for caring or welfare purposes and provided that at least ten days has expired since the household ceased to be a part of a previous linked household.

(4) In the period commencing at 12.01a.m on 23 December 2020 and ending at 11.59p.m on 27 December 2020 three households not including a linked household, or two households and one linked household, may choose to be linked with one another to form a “Christmas linked household” provided that—

(a) none of the households concerned is already part of a Christmas linked household, and

(b) all the adult members of each household agree.”

14.  For regulation 6 substitute-

“Restrictions on gatherings: private dwellings

6.— (1) In the period ending at 12.01a.m on 2 January 2021, a person shall not, between the hours of 8.00p.m and 6.00a.m, operate or participate in an outdoor or indoor gathering at a private dwelling which consists of persons from more than one household, except in the event of emergency or for the purpose of the provision of health or care services.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (4) to (10) a person shall not participate in an outdoor gathering in a private dwelling which consists of more than six persons (not including children aged 12 or under) and which consists of persons from more than two households.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) to (10), a person shall not participate in an indoor gathering in a private dwelling which consists of persons from more than one household.

(4) A gathering referred to in regulation 5A (a gathering of 30 or more persons in public or private with or without amplified music) falls to be dealt with under that regulation, and not this regulation, despite the fact that such a gathering may otherwise fall within this regulation.

(5) Paragraph (3) is modified in its application to a gathering in a private dwelling which is occupied by one household (”A”) in any case where household A consists of more than six persons. In such a case, an indoor gathering of persons which consists of more than six persons from household A does not contravene the restriction in paragraph (3), subject to the condition that no person from any other household participates in that gathering.

(6) In the period commencing at 12.01a.m on 23 December 2020 and ending at 11.59p.m on 27 December 2020 paragraphs (2) and (3) shall not apply to a gathering on one day only which is a Christmas linked household provided that if the gathering is outdoors it consists of no more than six persons.

(7) Paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply where the gathering is for the purpose of—

(a) the provision of care or assistance, including social services, to a vulnerable person;

(b) childcare provided by a person registered in accordance with the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 or any childcare provided free of charge;

(c) building or maintenance works or the provision of the services of any trade or profession at the private dwelling;

(d) giving or receiving legal advice or assistance or fulfilling a legal obligation;

(e) to move house and to undertake associated activities for that purpose, including viewing properties and making arrangements for removals;

(f) the provision of emergency or medical assistance to any person; or

(g) the removal of the remains of a deceased person to the private dwelling.

(8) Paragraphs (2) and (3) do not apply where all the persons in the gathering are members of two households which are linked households in relation to each other and the gathering consists of no more than ten persons.

(9) (a) Paragraph (3) 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 9(a) an indoor gathering in a private dwelling may consist of up to ten persons including the participants and officiant.

(10) (a) Paragraphs (2) and (3) 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 10(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 (10)(b).”

15.  After Regulation 6 insert-

“Overnight stays

6A.— (1) No person may, without a reasonable excuse, stay overnight at any place other than the place where they normally live or where their linked household normally lives, except (subject to the provisions of Paragraph 1(12) of Schedule 1) where the overnight stay is in a bed and breakfast establishment, hotel, bunkhouse, hostel, guest accommodation, self-catering establishment or guest house;

(2) For the purposes of (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need where reasonably necessary—

(a) to access medical or hospital services;

(b) to travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where it is not reasonably possible for that person to work, or to provide those services, from the place where they are living;

(c) to attend a funeral of a member of the person’s household, a close family member or a friend;

(d) to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;

(e) to access critical public services, including social services, childcare or educational facilities (where these are available to a child in relation to whom that person is the parent, or has parental responsibility for, or care of the child);

(f) to access services provided to victims (such as victims of crime);

(g) in the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go to their place of worship;

(h) to move house where reasonably necessary;

(i) to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm.

(j) to stay elsewhere overnight if unable to return to their private dwelling due to an emergency.”

16.  The present Regulation 6A is renumbered 6B and in that Regulation, for “4A to 5” substitute “4 to 6” at each of the four places where it occurs.

17.  After Regulation 6B insert-

“Power to direct persons home

6C.— (1) Where the conditions in paragraph (2) apply to a person P, a relevant person may direct P to return to the place where they are living.

(2) The conditions are-

(a) that a relevant person considers that P is outside of the place where they are living after 8.00pm and before 6.00am; and

(b) that P is engaged in, or is intending to engage in, activity prohibited by Regulations 4 to 6.

(3) A relevant person may only exercise the power in this Regulation if the relevant person considers that it is a necessary and proportionate means of ensuring compliance with the restriction or requirement in Regulation 4 to 6”

18.  In paragraph (1) of Regulation 7, for “4 to 6A, or Schedule 2” substitute “4 to 6”.

19.  In paragraph (2)(a) of Regulation 7, for “4 to 6, or Schedule 2” substitute “4 to 6”.

20.  In paragraphs (3) and (5) of Regulation 7, omit “or Schedule 2” at each place where it occurs.

21.  In paragraph (1) of Regulation 8 omit “or Schedule 2”.

22.  In paragraph (4)(a) of Regulation 8, for “4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A(1) and paragraphs 7 and 8 of Schedule 2,” substitute “4, 4E or 5A(1)”.

23.  In paragraph (6)(a) of Regulation 9, for “4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A(1) and paragraph 7 or 8 of Schedule 2” substitute “4, 4E, or 5A(1)”.

24.  In paragraph (1) of Regulation 15, for “the end of the period of six months beginning with the day on which they come into operation” substitute “11.59p.m on 5 February 2021”.

25.  For Schedule 1 substitute-

“Businesses, services providers and premises subject to closure Regulation 4

1.— (1) Nightclubs.

(2) Conference halls and conference facilities, including those in hotels, except when used for the delivery of hearings of Courts, Tribunals and Appeals Services, and for the administrative support of these services.

(3) Theatres and Concert Halls except for the purpose of a rehearsal or of a live recording, in both cases without an audience.

(4) Outdoor visitor attractions including funfairs, inflatable parks, amusements arcades and skating rinks, but not including play areas, public parks, forest and country parks, and outdoor areas of stately and historic homes, outdoor areas of castles and outdoor areas of properties operated by the National Trust.

(5) Indoor visitor attractions including bingo halls, museums, galleries and cinemas.

(6) Campsites and caravan parks for touring caravans including motorhomes, except to provide facilities to a person in the event of an emergency.

(7) Swimming and diving pools.

(8) Indoor sports and exercise facilities, including soft play areas, leisure centres, gyms, equestrian centres, venues relating to motor sport and activity centres, except as permitted by Regulation 5B (Sporting events).

(9) Outdoor sports and exercise facilities including activity centres, equestrian centres, marinas and venues relating to motor sport and water sport, except as permitted by Regulation 5B (Sporting events).

(10) Car washes except for the cleaning and disinfection of commercial vehicles for the purposes of food safety and controlling risks to human, animal or plant health.

(11) A business of providing facilities for persons to consume intoxicating liquor in or on a conveyance.

(12) A bed and breakfast establishment, hotel, bunkhouse, hostel, guest accommodation, self-catering establishment or guest house except-

(a) to host a wedding or civil partnership ceremony (but not a reception, and subject to Regulation 5(4)(b)), or

(b) in relation to residents who are—

(i) already resident on the date this schedule comes into operation;

(ii) resident for work-related purposes;

(iii) vulnerable people;

(iv) unable to return to their private dwelling due to an emergency.

Essential retail businesses Regulations 4B and 4C

2.— (1) Food retailers.

(2) Supermarkets, convenience stores and corner shops.

(3) Newsagents.

(4) Off licences and licensed shops selling alcohol (including breweries).

(5) Pharmacies (including non-dispensing pharmacies) and chemists.

(6) Building supplies businesses and hardware stores.

(7) Petrol stations

(8) Pet shops, agricultural supplies shops, livestock markets and veterinary surgeons.

(9) Motor vehicle repair and MOT services’.

(10) Bicycle shops.

(11) Taxi or vehicle hire businesses.

(12) Banks, building societies, credit unions, short-term loan providers and cash points, savings clubs and undertakings which by way of business operate currency exchange offices, transmit money (or any representation of money) by any means, or cash cheques which are made payable to customers.

(13) Post Offices.

(14) Funeral directors.

(15) Laundrettes and dry cleaners.

(16) Dental services, opticians, audiology services, chiropody, chiropractors, osteopaths, and other medical or health services, including services relating to mental health.

(17) Car parks.

(18) Public toilets.

(19) Storage and distribution facilities for delivery and drop off.

(20) Professional services including solicitors.

(21) Dog groomers.

(22) Fuel suppliers.

(23) Ports, airports, train stations, bus stations and other transport services.”

26.  For Schedule 2 subsititute Schedule 2 regulation 4D “Close contact service” with–

““Close contact service” means—

(a)

hairdressing or barbering;

(b)

provision of beauty or aesthetics treatments including treatments in relation to nails or makeup;

(c)

tattooing;

(d)

tanning;

(e)

services in spas;

(f)

sports and massage therapy;

(g)

well-being and holistic therapies;

(h)

dress fitting, tailoring and fashion design (unless social distance is maintained);

(i)

body piercing;

(j)

electrolysis;

(k)

training in any of the services listed at (a) to (j) (unless social distancing is maintained);

(l)

driving instruction for the test of competence to drive a vehicle other than a motorcycle established by Article 5 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.”

27.  In the heading to Schedule 3, for “Regulation 6A” substitute “Regulation 6B”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 2.00 pm on 24th December 2020

(L.S.)

Dr 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. They require businesses selling food, drink and intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises to cease to do business except for sale of food for consumption off the premises. Non-essential retail businesses are required to close. Limits are placed on gatherings and sporting events. With some exceptions close contact services must close.

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.150 as amended by S.R. 2020 Nos. 170, 187, 195, 198, 202, 204, 210, 213, 224, 225, 232, 239, 250, 255, 256, 274, 287, 290, 323, 335, 343, 346 and 352