Covid 19 - What you need to know - The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020

The Government have now published new Regulations to enact the changes to ‘Lockdown’ announced by the Prime Minister in his Sunday evening address.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020, which came into force today (Wednesday 13th May 2020), have amended the former regulations regarding reasonable excuses for leaving one’s home.

There are a number of changes including how we may now exercise and socially interact.

Exercise, which has never been limited in the number of Occasions you can enjoy this each day, has been expanded to include excising with one member of another household.

Also, spending time outside for open-air recreation to promote their physical or mental health or emotional wellbeing as well as exercise is now permitted.

Both of these relaxations still require social distancing to be practiced as before.

Garden centres (be wary of the lessons taught to us by Brian May) and outdoor sports courts are also permitted to reopen.

Finally, fixed penalty notices have been raised from:

• £60 to £100 for a 1st offence,
• £120 to £200 for a 2nd offence,
• £240 to £400 for a 3rd offence,
• £480 to £800 for a 4th offence,
• £960 to £1,600 for a 5th offence, and
• £960 to £3,200 for any subsequent offences.

The Government have released a statement in respect of the amendments to the regulations giving guidance and further interpretation.