The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Made: at 10.00 a.m. on 21st January 2022

Laid before the Assembly: at 11.00 a.m. on 21st January 2022

Coming into operation: at noon on 21st January 2022

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

These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 and shall come into operation at noon on 21st January 2022.

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020

2

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020[^f00003] are amended as follows—

3

For Regulation 5(d) substitute—

(d) where the person cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering— (i) because of any disability (within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995[^f00004]; or (ii) without severe distress;

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health at 10.00 am on 21st January 2022

Sir Michael McBride — Chief Medical Officer

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Wearing of Face Coverings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 by removing the requirement to provide proof of exemption if requested by a relevant person and reinstating the reasonable excuse of severe distress.

No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s.1(5).

[^f00002]: 1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c.7).

[^f00003]: S.R. 2020 no.151 as amended by S.R. 2020 Nos. 164, 220, 233 and 253, S.R. 2021 No. 96, 131, 216, 219, 250, 274, 291 and 348.

[^f00004]: 1995 c.50