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 expiration of 28 days beginning with the day on which they are made.
Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
2021 No. 276
Public Health
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 16) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
Made at 3.00 p.m. on 30th September 2021
Laid before the Assembly at 4.00 p.m. on 30th September 2021
Coming into operation at 6.00 p.m. on 30th September 2021

The Department of Health, 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.
Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)
1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c.7)
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(SARA-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 and commencement
1. (1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 16) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.
(2) These Regulations come into operation at 6 p.m. on 30th September 2021.

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
2. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 are amended in accordance with Regulations 3 to 8.
S.R 2021 No. 93 as amended by S.R. 2021 Nos. 97, 109, 117, 130, 141, 151, 172, 197, 199, 201, 217,220, 224 and 233
3. In Regulation 4(2)(j) after “(Requirement in relation to social distancing)” insert “except in relation to persons seated at a performance, recording or rehearsal”.
4. In Regulation 17(1) after “operation of” omit “a relevant place or”.
5. Omit Regulation 17(2).
6. Omit Regulation 17(2A)(b).
7. At the end of Regulation 17(2B) omit “and in a relevant place”.
8. (1) In Regulation 17(3)(a) after “visitors to” omit “a relevant place or”.
(2) In Regulation 17(3)(b) omit “relevant place or” on the two occasions where this occurs.
(3) Omit Regulation 17(3)(d).
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 3.00 pm on 30th September 2021
(L.S.)
Robin Swann
Minister of Health

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 to remove social distancing requirement for persons seated at a performance, recording or rehearsal.
No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.