The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 25) 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. 358

Public Health

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 25) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

Made

at 7.00 p.m. on 29th December 2020

Laid before the Assembly

at 8.00 p.m. on 29th 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) 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. 25) 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) After paragraph (2)(c) of Regulation 4C insert—

“(d) Taxi or vehicle hire businesses.”.

(3) In paragraph (1)(c) of Regulation 4DA, omit “in response to orders placed”.

(4) In the heading to Regulation 4DB, for “licenced” substitute “unlicenced”.

(5) In paragraph (1)(c) of Regulation 4DB, omit “in response to orders placed”.

(6) In Regulation 4DD, omit “in response to orders placed”.

(7) In Regulation 5B (Restrictions on sporting events), in paragraph (2) omit sub-paragraph (c), and in paragraph 3 omit sub-paragraphs (c) and (d).

(8) In paragraph (1) of Regulation 6C, after “apply to a person P” insert “during the period ending at 23:59 on 1 January 2021”.

(9) For Schedule 2 substitute–

Regulation 4D

“SCHEDULE 2 Close contact services

“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.””

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

3.—(1) The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment No. 24) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020( ) are amended in accordance with this Regulation.

(2) Regulation 26 is revoked.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 7.00 pm on 29th 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 by permitting taxi businesses to operate after 8.00 pm in the period up to 2 January 2021. They limit the operating hours of businesses selling food and drink. They provide that the power to require people to return home operates only up to 2 January 2021. The remaining Regulations correct errors in previous regulations.

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, 352 and 356