The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Additional Temporary Measures) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Additional Temporary Measures) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (“the principal regulations”).

Regulation 2(5) amends the principal regulations to provide that face coverings must be worn in workplace canteens.

Regulation 2(2)(b) adds new paragraph (ga) to regulation 24 of the principal regulations, to provide that the parties to a marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration do not have to wear face coverings for the duration of the ceremony or registration, provided that there is either a partition between the parties and any other person or alternatively, a distance of at least two metres is maintained between the parties and any other person. There is no requirement for a partition, or a distance of at least two metres, to be maintained between the parties to the marriage ceremony or civil partnership registration.

Regulation 2(3) inserts a new regulation 24A into the principal regulations, to require persons to wear a face covering when in indoor communal areas in workplaces. This duty does not apply in certain circumstances or to certain groups of people, such as children under 5 years of age.

In accordance with the provision in the principal regulations about face coverings in certain indoor public places, regulation 2(4) creates offences connected to contravening new regulation 24A by failing to wear a face covering when in an indoor communal area in a workplace and where none of the exceptions apply. Regulation 26(4) of the principal regulations provides a defence where the person has a reasonable excuse.