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. 292
Public Health
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
Made at 12.05 p.m. on 28th October 2021
Laid before the Assembly at 1.05 p.m. on 28th October 2021
Coming into operation at noon on 31st October 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. 18) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.
(2) These regulations come into operation at noon on 31st October 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 17.
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, 233, 251, 276 and 283
3. In Regulation 1(2) omit—
(a) the definition of “drink”,
(b) the definition of “household”, and
(c) the definition of “shop”.
4. Omit Regulation 3.
5. Omit Regulation 4(2)(c) and 4(2)(d).
6. In Regulation 4(2)(e) omit “and which determines the maximum number of persons who may be accommodated in each part of the venue”.
7. Omit Regulation 4(2)(g), 4(2)(j), 4(3) and 4(4).
8. In Regulation 5(1) omit “paragraph (3) or”.
9. In Regulation 5(1)(e) omit “and the duty in regulation 17 (Requirement in relation to social distancing)”.
10. Omit Regulation 5(1)(f)
11. In Regulation 5(1)(h) omit—

“and which determines—
(i) the maximum number of persons who may be seated in each part of the premises;”.

12. At the end of Regulation 5(1)(j) omit the semi-colon and insert a full-stop.
13. Omit Regulation 5(1)(k), 5(1)(m) and 5(1)(n).
14. Omit Regulation 5(3)(b)(iv).
15. In Regulation 15A paragraph “(5)” is renumbered “(4)”.
16. Omit Regulation 17.
17. Omit Schedule 1.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 12.05 pm on 28th October 2021
(L.S.)
Sir Michael McBride
Chief Medical Officer

EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 to remove the requirement to be seated in a hospitality venue to consume food or drink, remove the legal requirement to maintain social distancing in a hospitality venue, permit dancing in all venues and permit the reopening of nightclubs. It also removes the requirement for a ticket to be purchased in advance for an outdoor event.
A minor amendment is made to regulation 15A to correct the numbering.
No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.