This is a weekly update on the legislation and guidance on coronavirus COVID-19 up to Saturday 17 October; it is intended as a quick reference to the latest developments. New items will be added throughout each week as they become available, and included in COVID-19 Coronavirus: legislation and guidance which is now the main source of information§. The updates for earlier weeks are here.
Sunday 11 October 2020 to Saturday 17 October 2020
Law and Religion UK
- Advice on local outbreaks: Church of England, Two new FAQs issued, 12 October at 10:37.
- Law and religion round-up – 11 October, COVID-19: marriages and civil partnerships in England, COVID-19: increased restrictions in Ireland.
Church of England
- Updated Monday 12 October at 10:37 and at 16:48, see L&RUK post, above.
- Last updated Tuesday 13 October at 11:40
“Following the announcement on Monday October 12 of a new three-tier risk alert system for COVID-19, we understand that Places of Worship can remain open at all Tiers – although at the ‘high’ and ‘very high’ Tiers there should be no mixing between households. This recognises the important role churches and other places of worship continue to play in serving their communities and providing vital comfort and support to people amid very difficult times.
Whilst Government guidance has been revised to allow certain activities to take place in church buildings, it is still vital that the necessary hygiene and social distancing precautions are kept in place in order to protect the NHS and save lives.
The information on this page is regularly updated, so please check back to ensure you have the latest guidance. When major changes are made, we will publish update through the Church of England Twitter and Facebook accounts. Please read the detailed guidance below to ensure all activities are conducted in a safe and hygienic way.
England – Legislation
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Medium) (England) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/1103. Made at 5.00 p.m. on 12th October 2020; Laid before Parliament at 6.00 p.m. on 12th October 2020; Coming into force 14th October 2020. These Regulations impose restrictions on gatherings and businesses in England, other than in the areas specified in Schedule 2, where the local COVID-19 alert level is assessed as being medium.
The restrictions on businesses include the imposition of restricted hours for certain businesses and closure of certain businesses. The need for the restrictions in these Regulations must be reviewed by the Secretary of State every 28 days. The Regulations themselves expire six months after the date on which they are made. - The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (High) (England) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/1104. Made at 5.00 p.m. on 12th October 2020; Laid before Parliament at 6.00 p.m. on 12th October 2020; Coming into force 14th October 2020. These Regulations impose restrictions on gatherings and businesses in the areas specified in Schedule 2, where the local COVID-19 alert level is assessed as being high, and on gatherings elsewhere by persons living in the specified areas. The restrictions on businesses in the specified areas consist of limitations on the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises, the imposition of restricted hours for certain businesses and closure of certain businesses in the specified areas.
The need for the areas to be subject to the restrictions in these Regulations must be reviewed by the Secretary of State every 14 days and the restrictions must also be reviewed every 28 days. The Regulations themselves expire six months after the date on which they are made. - The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Local COVID-19 Alert Level) (Very High) (England) Regulations 2020, SI 2020/1105. Made at 5.00 p.m. on 12th October 2020; Laid before Parliament at 6.00 p.m. on 12th October 2020; Coming into force 14th October 2020. These Regulations impose restrictions on gatherings and businesses in the areas specified in Schedule 2, where the COVID-19 alert level is assessed as being very high, and on gatherings elsewhere by persons living in the specified areas. The restrictions on businesses in the specified areas consist of limitations on the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises, the imposition of restricted hours for certain businesses and closure of certain businesses in the specified areas.
The restrictions will cease to have effect in relation to a particular area 28 days from the date in which the restrictions came into force in that area, unless the Secretary of State directs otherwise. If such a direction is issued, the restrictions will continue in effect for a further 28 days. The need for the restrictions in these Regulations must be reviewed by the Secretary of State every 28 days. The Regulations themselves expire six months after the date on which they are made.
England – Guidance
- Local COVID alert levels: what you need to know. DHSC, 12 October. Information on local COVID alert levels, including what they mean, why they are being introduced and what the different levels are.
- West Yorkshire: local restrictions. DHSC, 12 October 2020.
- Leicester: local restrictions. DHSC, 12 October 2020.
- North East of England: local restrictions. DHSC, 12 October 2020.
- Greater Manchester: local restrictions. DHSC, 12 October 2020.
- Merseyside, Halton and Warrington: local restrictions. DHSC, 12 October 2020.
- West Midlands: local restrictions. DHSC, 12 October 2020.
- Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen: local restrictions. DHSC, 12 October 2020.
The DHSC has published Local restrictions: areas with an outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) with information on local COVID alert levels and the BBC has Local lockdown rules: Check Covid restrictions in your area.
Wales
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Functions of Local Authorities etc.) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, WSI 2020/1100 (W. 250). Expand the power conferred on local authorities to issue public place directions such that a direction may prohibit specified activities in a public place as well as restrict access to it.
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 18) (Bangor) Regulations 2020 WSI 2020/1102 (W. 251).
Scotland
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Additional Temporary Measures) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, SSI 2020/318. Additional temporary restrictions and requirements making provision for the areas specified in ‘the protected area’ (Reg 2) and for the rest of Scotland. They expire at 6 a.m. on 26 October 2020. The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 are suspended during the life of these Regulations.”
Other
- CCCBR, Guidance Notes, as at 9 October 2020; next update on Monday 19th October.
- House of Commons Library: Research Briefing: Coronavirus: policing the lockdown, 8 October 2020.
Other
- Making Music: Covid-19: Can my group get back to in-person activities?. Timeline and review of regulations and guidance relating to music groups in each of the different nations of the UK.
§ – item to be added to COVID-19 Coronavirus: legislation and guidance.
Post last updated, 14 October at 07:17.