This post includes a rolling update of new legislation and guidance on coronavirus COVID-19 during the week commencing 9 May 2021 *.
Sunday 9 May to Saturday 15 May 2021
Legislation
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) Regulations 2021, SI 2021/582, and Explanatory Memorandum. Travel regulations completely replaced [91pp] last thing on Friday 14th May before they come into force on Monday 17 May.
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps and Other Provisions) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, SI 2021/585. Amends Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021 (“Steps Regulations”), to move all places in England (including the territorial sea and airspace above England) from the Step 2 area to the Step 3 area, so that the restrictions set out in Schedule 3 to the Steps Regulations apply throughout England with effect from 17th May 2021, the date on which these Regulations come into force.
Also removes the restrictions on leaving the United Kingdom, and amends restrictions set out in Schedule 3 to the Steps Regulations to increase the number of people who are able to attend a parent and child group or a support group, to remove the limits on the number of people who may attend a funeral, to permit gatherings necessary to enable a student to move to another household for the purposes of a vacation before 30th June 2021 and to amend the restriction on organising a large gathering outdoors so that it only applies when there are more than 50 people in the gathering.
Furthermore, amends the Steps Regulations to remove savings provisions in regulations 21 and 23 which are unnecessary because they replicate the effect of section 16 of the Interpretation Act 1978(a).
Guidance &c
England
- Further easing of COVID restrictions confirmed for 17 May: Planned Step 3 easements will go ahead on 17 May. 10 Downing Street, (10 May 2021).
- PM statement at coronavirus press conference: 10 May 2021″, Prime Minister/10 Downing Street, Speaking Notes, (10 May 2021).
- Maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors to support NHS Test and Trace, including community centres and village halls. However, “Places of worship, including when the venue is used for events and other community activities, are not included in these regulations but are still strongly encouraged to maintain staff, customer and visitor logs and to display an official NHS QR code poster. Consent should still be sought from individuals entering your establishment”. DHSC, (11 May 2021).
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, receptions and celebrations. Guidance for couples planning to get married or form a civil partnership in England, as well as managers of venues that host ceremonies and receptions. Cabinet Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, (13 May 2021).
- COVID-19: arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic, DHSC, PHE, (13 May 2021).
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, receptions and celebrations, Cabinet Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, (13 May 2021).§
- (COVID-19) Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and cannot do, Including how the rules will change on 17 May 2021. However, other sections of the guidance appear to refer to current restrictions up to 17 May. MHCLG, (10 May 2021). Added additional guidance on new variant, (14 May 2021, same URL).
- COVID-19: guidance for the safe use of places of worship , MHCLG, (14 May 2021)
- Celebrating religious festivals during coronavirus (COVID-19), MHCLG, (14 May 2021).
Church of England‡
- Last updated Friday May 14, 15:27
From Monday May 17, England moves to Stage Three of the Government’s ‘reopening’ roadmap. For places of worship this will involve some changes – notably a rise in the numbers permitted at funerals, up to the Covid-safe capacity of the building, and a maximum of 30 attendees at weddings.
Government guidance on Places of Worship is being updated and we will update our guidance accordingly on May 17. [This and other guidance has now been published and is reviewed in our post, infra].
- Update: Wednesday 12 May, 17.00§
“Full review of guidance carried out, with some out-of-date or less helpful guidance removed as part of our ongoing streamlining of information on this page”. These changes have been made to COVID-19 Coronavirus: legislation and guidance.
RSCM
- COVID-19: Guidance for Safe Group Music-making in Church: UPDATE 13.5.21. Further easing of restrictions have been released by the Westminster Government, particularly related to children’s choirs. (13 May 2021).
Law and Religion UK
- Law and religion round-up – 9 May. Upcoming Church of England Guidance for funerals.§
- COVID-19: Step 3 guidance for the safe use of places of worship in England, (15 May 2021).§
Post last updated, 15 May 2021 at 14:07
* Information on COVID-19 on L&RUK
These updates are published at the start of each week; they are not reissued, but new items are added throughout the week as they become available, providing a “rolling update” of the latest developments during the current week. They are also added to COVID-19 Coronavirus: legislation and guidance which is the main source of information, and listed with the newest items last (unlike the CofE documents, infra); items in the weekly updates yet to be added are marked “§“. The updates for the earlier weeks are here.
Church of England documents are listed under their full title and issue number, in the same order as they appear on the Church’s web site.