ForTheLoveOf
Established Member
- Joined
- 7 Oct 2017
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The Government has finally published the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2020, which replace the previous Regulations, and come into force on 4 July.
In summary, all previous restrictions are revoked and replaced with the following three restrictions:
I imagine Regulation 6 is intended to allow the Government to ban people from going to the beach in their thousands as happened in Bournemouth recently.
These new Regulations mean that life is virtually back to normal - from a legal perspective.
*This is a highly nuanced restriction. The limit of 30 people does not apply to a gathering set up by an organisation (business, charity etc.), or gatherings in public outdoor places operated by organisations as visitor attractions or that are part of organisations' operational premises. Neither does it apply to gatherings taking place on private property other than dwellings (whether indoors or outdoors), or those organised by organisation where a risk assessment has been undertaken and all reasonable measures have been taken to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus (social distancing etc.). All previous exceptions, e.g. reasonably necessary work or childcare gatherings, plus a few other niche ones, also apply.
In summary, all previous restrictions are revoked and replaced with the following three restrictions:
- Regulation 4, which requires certain businesses such as nightclubs, swimming pools and indoor gyms to remain closed.
- Regulation 5, which sets a limit of 30 people to gatherings "in a private dwelling" (which includes attached gardens), in public open places, as well as to indoor raves, with certain exceptions*.
- Regulation 6, which permits the Secretary of State to restrict access to public outdoor places.
I imagine Regulation 6 is intended to allow the Government to ban people from going to the beach in their thousands as happened in Bournemouth recently.
These new Regulations mean that life is virtually back to normal - from a legal perspective.
*This is a highly nuanced restriction. The limit of 30 people does not apply to a gathering set up by an organisation (business, charity etc.), or gatherings in public outdoor places operated by organisations as visitor attractions or that are part of organisations' operational premises. Neither does it apply to gatherings taking place on private property other than dwellings (whether indoors or outdoors), or those organised by organisation where a risk assessment has been undertaken and all reasonable measures have been taken to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus (social distancing etc.). All previous exceptions, e.g. reasonably necessary work or childcare gatherings, plus a few other niche ones, also apply.