These Regulations (which come into force on 17 December 2021) amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 3 substitutes a new regulation 4 into the principal Regulations to expand the existing requirement in regulation 4 to have regard to guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers about measures to minimise risk of exposure to coronavirus. The new provision also requires the taking of such of the measures as are reasonably practicable.

Regulation 4 amends provisions in regulation 5 of the principal Regulations which exempt a person from the requirement that a face covering must be worn in certain indoor places where a distance is maintained between people. The amendments increase the required distance from one to two metres.

Regulation 5 amends regulation 6(1)(b) of the principal Regulations. Face coverings must be worn in indoor communal areas in a workplace where there are no measures to separate persons by a partition or by maintaining a distance of at least one metre between people. The amendment increases the required distance from one metre to two metres.

Regulation 6 amends regulation 7(1)(h) of the principal Regulations. A face covering must be worn on a ferry unless a minimum distance is maintained between people. The amendment increases the required distance from one metre to two metres.

Regulation 7 amends regulation 15(9) of the principal Regulations to add the requirement in regulation 4(1)(b) to the requirements for which a local authority may designate a person for enforcement purposes.

Regulation 8 amends regulation 16(1) of the principal Regulations to exclude the requirement in regulation 4(1)(b) from the offence provision.