Legislation – The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Wales) Regulations 2020

These Regulations supplement the health protection regime found in Part 2A of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 (“the 1984 Act”) in the event that there exists a serious and imminent threat to public health from the virus known as Coronavirus or “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”, which causes the disease known as “COVID-19”.

Regulation 2 defines the terms used in the Regulations.

Regulation 3 provides that the Regulations apply where the Welsh Ministers make a declaration on www.gov.wales that the incidence or transmission of Coronavirus constitutes a serious and imminent threat to public health and that the incidence or transmission of Coronavirus is at such a point that the measures outlined in these Regulations may reasonably be considered as an effective means of delaying or preventing the further transmission of Coronavirus.

Regulation 4 enables a person to be detained for screening purposes where certain conditions are met.

Regulation 5 enables screening and other requirements to be imposed on a person where certain conditions are met.

Regulation 6 sets out the screening requirements.

Regulation 7 enables further restrictions and requirements to be imposed on certain persons for the purpose of reducing or removing the risk of persons infecting or contaminating others.

Regulation 8 provides for the isolation of persons.

Regulation 9 makes additional provision in relation to cases where persons are detained or isolated.

Regulation 10 enables restrictions and requirements to be imposed in relation to groups of persons.

Regulations 11 and 12 provide for appeals and enforcement.

Regulation 13 provides powers for constables to detain persons.

Regulation 14 provides for offences.

Regulation 15 provides for the expiry of the Regulations at the end of two years.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared as to the likely cost and benefit of complying with these Regulations.