This post includes a rolling update of new legislation and guidance on coronavirus COVID-19 over the period Sunday 20 June to Saturday 26 June 2021 *.

Legislation

England

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2021, SI 2021/731. These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/582) to provide for limited exemptions from the obligation to self-isolate, to provide information on a passenger locator form and the requirements in relation to tests for those attending the Ministerial meeting organised by the government in connection with the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Global Education Summit, or related events. They also exempt certain categories of invitees of the Football Association Limited at the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship from the obligation to self-isolate, and provide for an exemption in relation to the requirement to provide information for persons travelling to the United Kingdom under arrangements made by the government for locally engaged Afghan staff and their families, and make minor amendments.§

Wales

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 13) Regulations 2021, WSI 2021/722 (W.183). The Regulations replace regulation 16 of the principal Regulations. The new regulation 16 requires the person responsible for “regulated premises” to take various steps. (coming into force 21 June 2021).§

Scotland

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 28) Regulations 2021, SSI 2021/242. The areas of Manchester City Council and Salford City Council are added to the list of places in respect of which the restrictions set out in schedule 7A apply. It also amends schedule 7A so that, from 18 June 2021, the restrictions no longer apply in respect of the Republic of Ireland and the area of Bedford Borough Council.§
• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 29) Regulations 2021. Also Policy Note.  Funerals, Extended hospitality opening hours during the latter stages of the Euros, British Lions v Japan match, Murrayfield, 26 June 2021, Weddings.
• Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill, (18 June 2021).

Northern Ireland

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021, SR 172.  The make a technical change in relation to the requirement to produce a risk assessment for a gathering.

Guidance

England

• Outdoor civil wedding and partnership registrations to be legalised. Detailed Press Release in advance of SI to come into force on 1 July 2021. Not strictly related to coronavirus, but with implications on weddings in England and Wales during periods of lockdown. Ministry of Justice, (20 June).§
• (COVID-19) Coronavirus restrictions: what you can and cannot do. Updates to the rules on weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and wedding receptions or civil partnership celebrations, commemorative events following a death such as a wake, stone setting or ash scattering, care home visits and domestic residential visits for children. (21 June); Removed Hounslow from list of areas where there’s an enhanced response to the spread of the Delta variant. (also 21 June); Updated international travel section with a link to new simplified guidance on international travel. (22 June). Cabinet Office, (23 June 2021).§

Wales

• Guidance on reopening places of worship: coronavirus, This guidance has now been revised and uploaded. Welsh Government.§

Church of England‡

Updated Thursday June 24, 14:50:

• FAQ on APCM and PCC meetings updated to reflect current stage of roadmap, Is there guidance on how we can hold our PCC meeting or APCM§

Law and Religion UK

• Law and religion round-up – 20 June. COVID-19 and Parliamentary scrutiny again; COVID-19 legislation and guidance; Temporary permission for outdoor weddings in England & Wales.§
• Protect Duty: Consultation.  The Home Office Protect Duty Consultation was issued on 28 February 2021, and closes at 11:45pm on 2 July; this  has the objective of making the public safer at publicly accessible locations, including places of worship.§

Post last updated,  25 June 2021 at 09:52. 

* 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

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.

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