The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Regulated Activities) (Coronavirus) Order 2020

Made: at 1.57 p.m. on 17th April 2020

Laid before Parliament: at 3.30 p.m. on 17th April 2020

Coming into force: at 1.57 p.m. on 17th April 2020

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 61(5) of, and paragraphs 6 and 9 of Schedule 4 to, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006[^f00001].

Citation, interpretation and commencement

1

• (1) This Order may be cited as the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (Regulated Activities) (Coronavirus) Order 2020.

• (2) In this Order “coronavirus” has the meaning described in section 1(1) of the Coronavirus Act 2020[^f00002] (meaning of “coronavirus” and related terminology).

• (3) This Order comes into force on 17th April 2020.

Removing saliva or mucus for the purpose of testing for coronavirus is not to be treated as a regulated activity

2

• (1) Removing saliva or mucus from the mouth or nose of an individual where that is being done for the purpose of testing the presence of coronavirus in that individual, is not to be treated as a regulated activity.

• (2) Paragraph (1) applies to testing carried out by the following persons —

• (a) members of Her Majesty’s Forces;

• (b) employees of The Boots Company plc, company number 00027657; and

• (c) individuals employed by, contracted by or party to an agreement to undertake removal of mucus or saliva with, Sodexo Limited, company number 00842846 or Sodexo Holdings Limited, company number 02987170.

Sunsetting of this Order

3

This Order ceases to have effect at the end of 18 months beginning with the date this Order comes into force.

Signed

Matt Hancock — Secretary of State, — Department of Health and Social Care — At 1.57 p.m. on 17th April 2020

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Order is made under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c. 47) (“the 2006 Act”). This Order provides for the activity of removal of saliva or mucus from the mouth or nose of an individual where that is done for the purpose of testing an individual for coronavirus, not to be treated as a regulated activity within the meaning of the 2006 Act. The provision made by Article 2(1) applies to specified individuals. This Order ceases to have effect at the end of 18 months from its coming into force.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2006 c.47.

[^f00002]: 2020 c.7.