The emergency period and review of need for restrictions
4.—(1) For the purposes of this Part, the “emergency period”—
(a)starts when these Regulations come into force, and
(b)ends in relation to a restriction imposed by this Part on the day and at the time specified in a direction given by the Secretary of State under this regulation terminating the restriction.
(2) The Secretary of State must review the need for restrictions imposed by this Part at least once every 14 days, with the first review being carried out by 19th August 2020.
(3) As soon as the Secretary of State considers that any restriction set out in this Part is no longer necessary to prevent, protect against, control or provide a public health response to the incidence or spread of infection in England with the coronavirus, the Secretary of State must give a direction under this regulation terminating that restriction.
(4) A direction given under this regulation may—
(a)terminate any one or more specified restrictions (whether generally or in one or more specified local authority areas only);
(b)provide that any one or more specified local authority areas no longer fall within the protected area.
(5) A direction falling within paragraph (4)(b) is referred to in these Regulations as a “change of protected area direction”.
(6) Section 16 of the Interpretation Act 1978(1) applies in relation to the termination of a requirement by a direction as it applies in relation to the repeal of an enactment.
(7) Where the Secretary of State gives a change of protected area direction, the Secretary of State—
(a)must—
(i)publish it on www.gov.uk, and
(ii)arrange for notice of it to be given, as soon as is reasonably practicable, in the London Gazette;
(b)may publish it in such other manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate to bring it to the attention of persons who may be affected by it.
(8) Any other direction given by the Secretary of State under this regulation must be published in such manner as the Secretary of State considers appropriate to bring it to the attention of persons who may be affected by it.
(9) In this regulation “specified” means specified in a direction given under this regulation.