The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2020

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Part 2A of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 enables the Welsh Ministers, by regulations, to make provision for the purpose of preventing, protecting against, controlling or providing a public health response to the incidence or spread of infection or contamination in Wales.

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 Wales.

Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020.

The amendments consist of provision—

(a) permitting certain premises to be open for elite athletes to train and providing that it is a reasonable excuse for elite athletes to be away from their local area, or to gather with other persons for the purposes of training or competition;

(b) permitting shops previously required to be closed (and similar premises including car dealerships and outdoor markets) to open, but note that they must comply with requirements relating to physical distancing and their customers must remain in the area local to where they are living;

(c) removing limitations on marriage and civil partnership ceremonies taking place, subject to physical distancing requirements;

(d) permitting places of worship to open for private prayer;

(e) making it clear that a place of worship or community centre may open (at the request of the Welsh Ministers or a local authority) in order to provide any public service;

(f) stating that it is a reasonable excuse to leave your local area or be inside with other persons in order to vote in an election, but only where it is not reasonably practicable to vote otherwise than in person;

(g) stating that it is a reasonable excuse to leave your local area or gather indoors with other persons in order to—

(i) move house;

(ii) prepare a property for someone to move in;

(iii) visit an estate or letting agent, developer sales office or show home in connection with the purchase, sale or rental of an unoccupied property;

(iv) view an unoccupied property.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared as to the likely cost and benefit of complying with these Regulations.