The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Limitations to, and exceptions from, requirement to self-isolate

11.—(1) This regulation sets out the limitations to, and exceptions from, the requirement to self-isolate for a person (P).

(2) Regulation 10 does not require P to remain in self-isolation—

(a) from any person with whom they were travelling when they arrived in Northern Ireland and who is also self-isolating in the place where P is self-isolating,

(b) where P is self-isolating in their home, from any member of their household,

(c) where P is self-isolating in the home of a friend or family member, from any member of the household of that friend or family member,

(d) from any person who is staying in the place where P is self-isolating whose assistance P reasonably requires by reason of—

(i) P being a child, or

(ii) any disability of P’s,

(e) where P leaves, or is outside of, the place where P is self-isolating for the purposes of, or connected with, undertaking a test in accordance with Schedule 6, from any person whose assistance P reasonably requires in order to undertake the test, by reason of—

(i) P being a child, or

(ii) any disability of P’s.

(3) Regulation 10 does not require P to remain in isolation from a person (V) when V is at the place where P is self-isolating—

(a) to provide emergency assistance,

(b) to provide care or assistance, including personal care within the meaning of paragraph 1(1B) or 7(3B) of Schedule 2 to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007(1), to P or to any other person who is living in the place where P is self-isolating,

(c) to provide medical assistance including to provide any of the services mentioned in paragraph (4)(b), to P or to any other person who is living in the place where P is self-isolating, where this is required urgently or on the advice of a registered medical practitioner,

(d) to provide veterinary services, where this is required urgently or on the advice of a veterinary surgeon,

(e) to provide critical public services, including those mentioned in paragraph (4)(i).

(4) During the period of their self-isolation, P may not leave, or be outside of, the place where P is self-isolating except—

(a) to travel in order to leave Northern Ireland, provided that they do so directly, but this is subject to paragraphs 4 and 5 of Schedule 6 (consequences of positive test result),

(b) to seek medical assistance, where this is required urgently or on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, including to access services from dentists, opticians, audiologists, chiropodists, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health practitioners, including services relating to mental health,

(c) to access veterinary services where this is required urgently or on the advice of a veterinary surgeon,

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

(e) to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm,

(f) on compassionate grounds including to attend a funeral of—

(i) a member of P’s household,

(ii) a close family member, or

(iii) if no-one within sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) are attending, a friend,

(g) to move to a different place for self-isolation specified on a Passenger Locator Form completed by or in respect of P,

(h) in exceptional circumstances such as—

(i) to obtain basic necessities such as food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) where it is not possible to obtain these provisions in any other manner,

(ii) to move to a different place for self-isolation where it becomes impracticable to remain at the address at which they are self-isolating,

(i) to access critical public services, including—

(i) social services,

(ii) services provided to victims (such as victims of crime),

(j) in the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go to their place of worship alone provided they will be there alone,

(k) to take exercise alone or with members of P’s household,

(l) to visit a burial ground to pay respects to a member of P’s household, family member or friend provided they are doing so alone,

(m) for the purposes of, or connected with, undertaking a test in accordance with Schedule 6.

(1)

2007 S.I. 1351 (N.I. 11)