The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Made: 15th April 2021

Coming into operation: at 4.00 a.m. on 16th April 2021

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 1 — General

Citation and commencement

1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Interpretation

2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 2 — Operator liability in respect of arrivals

Requirement to ensure passengers have completed a Passenger Locator Form

3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Requirement to ensure passengers possess notification of negative test result

4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Requirement to ensure passengers possess a testing package

5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Requirement to ensure passengers possess a testing package

6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Requirement to ensure that red list arrivals arrive only at designated ports

7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Offences

8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power to use and disclose information

9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 3 — Information to passengers

Requirement to provide information to passengers at certain times

10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Requirement to provide information to passengers in a certain manner

11

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 4 — Final provisions

Review of need for restrictions

12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Expiry of these Regulations

13

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Revocations

14

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Relationship between these Regulations and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SCHEDULE — Information for passengers

PART 1 — Essential information to enter Northern Ireland from overseas

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Before departure to the UK check if any of the countries you have visited in the last 10 days are on the red list.

If you have visited a country on the red list you must follow the red list rules.

If you have not visited any countries on the red list, what you have to do depends on your vaccination status. Check the rules before you travel at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-status-travel

Public health requirements may vary depending upon which nation of the UK you are travelling to. Check the relevant website if your final destination is in England, Scotland or Wales.

Failure to comply with these measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. There are a limited set of exemptions from these measures. You may be fined if you fraudulently claim an exemption.

If you qualify as fully vaccinated you must book a test to take on or before day 2.

If you do not qualify as fully vaccinatedyou must:

• provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 2 days of departure to the UK,

• make plans to self-isolate in private accommodation for 10 full days after arrival (or full duration of stay if less than 10 days), and

• book tests to take on day 2 and day 8 of self-isolation.

These measures apply to all persons (including UK nationals and residents) arriving in the UK from outside the Common Travel Area comprising the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. The British Overseas Territories are not in the Common Travel Area. Public health requirements may vary depending upon which nation of the UK you are staying in.

PART 2 — Onboard announcement

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 15th April 2021.

Robin Swann — Minister of Health

Explanatory note

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Footnotes

[^f00001]: Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)

[^f00002]: 1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7)

[^f00003]: 1971 c. 77.

[^f00004]: 1971 c. 77. Paragraph 1 was amended by paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the Health Protection Agency Act 2004 (c. 17), and by S.I. 1993/1813

[^f00005]: S.R. 2021 No. 99

[^f00006]: S.I. 2016 No. 765

[^f00007]: S.R. 2020 No. 179. Regulation 3 of S.R. 2020 No.179 was revoked by S.R. 2020 No. 215 and regulation 2 of S.R. 2020 No. 179 was revoked by S.R. 2021 No. 99. This revocation revokes the remainder of S.R. 2020 No. 179.

[^f00008]: S.R. 2020 No. 215

[^f00009]: S.R. 2020 No. 325

[^f00010]: S.R. 2021 No. 10. Part 1 of S.R. 2021 No. 10 was revoked by S.R. 2021 No. 99. This revocation revokes the remainder of S.R. 2021 No. 10.

Required information to enter Northern Ireland from overseas

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION TO ENTER THE UK

The United Kingdom is taking steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

1) All persons (including UK nationals and residents) arriving in the UK from outside the common travel area must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of departure to the UK. For further information please visit: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-taking-coronavirus-test-travelling-northern-ireland.

2) To protect your health and others', everyone must complete an online passenger locator form before arrival in the United Kingdom.

3) If you are an arrival from a non-red list country and you do not meet the requirements to be an “eligible” arrival, you must self-isolate for 10 days unless exempt. If you are an arrival from a red list country you must have booked a Managed Isolation Package prior to departure. [For information please visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-self-isolating]. Check the list of ... red list countries immediately before travel and the list of work-related exemptions if travelling for work.

4) Everyone is required to take a coronavirus test on day 2, and if you are an arrival from a red list country, or you are an arrival from a non-red list country and do not meet the requirements to be an “eligible” arrival, you must also take a test on day 8 of your isolation unless you are exempt. You must have booked this prior to departure. For information please visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-advice.

5) It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in Northern Ireland.

Failure to comply with these measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control for detailed public health advice and requirements for entering the UK

The required information to be given in accordance with regulation 11(4) is: “ The following is a public health message on behalf of the UK's public health agencies. Before entering the UK, you must complete a passenger locator form online, regardless of where you are arriving from. You must isolate for the first 10 days after you arrive, unless you are in an exempt category or from a green list country. This is to protect yourself and others. This includes booking a Managed Isolation Package if you have travelled through a red list country in the last 10 days, or booking home tests if you have travelled in any other country. Visit gov.uk for more information. The symptoms of coronavirus are a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell. If you experience any of these symptoms, however mild, you are advised to make yourself known to the crew. Simple measures you can take to help protect yourself and family are: Wear a mask Wash your hands Avoid touching your face with your hands Practice social distancing Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue and dispose of it immediately. ”.

Editorial notes

If you are not fully vaccinated or do not meet the eligibility criteria, you must take a test before the end of day 2 after you arrive.

The symptoms of coronavirus are a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell. If you experience any of these symptoms, however mild, you are advised to make yourself known to the crew.

Please follow the Public Health guidance for the area you are living or travelling in.

Visit gov.uk/coronavirus for more advice.

Please follow the Public Health guidance for the area you are living or travelling in.

Visit gov.uk/coronavirus for more advice

Requirement to check vaccination status

4A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Requirement to ensure passengers possess a managed isolation package

Requirement to ensure that red list arrivals arrive only at designated ports

Offences

Power to use and disclose information

Essential information to enter Northern Ireland from overseas

All persons (including UK nationals and residents) arriving in the UK from outside the CTA must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 2 days of departure to the UK. For further information please visit: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travelling-northern-ireland-non-red-list-country.

Fill in your passenger locator form up to 48 hours before arrival. You must declare all countries you have visited or travelled through in the 10 days prior to your arrival on your passenger locator form.

Before departure check the list of red countries https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travelling-northern-ireland-red-list-country as the list can change regularly.

Red list passengers (including passengers who are fully vaccinated)

...

1.

Book a managed isolation package https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travelling-northern-ireland-red-list-country#toc-4

2.

Complete a passenger locator form https://nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travelling-northern-ireland-red-list-country#toc-4

You can only enter if you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK. You must enter through a designated port and isolate in a government approved hotel for 10 days.

Unvaccinated passengers or passengers vaccinated with unauthorised vaccines

...

1.

Book PCR tests to take on or before day 2 and on or after day 8.

2.

Complete a passenger locator form https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travelling-northern-ireland-non-red-list-country#toc-8

3.

Make plans to self-isolate in private accommodation for 10 full days after arrival (or full duration of stay if less than 10 days).

Fully vaccinated passengers

1.

Book a PCR test to take on or before day 2.

2.

Complete a passenger locator form.

Visit gov.uk/coronavirus for more advice."

3.

Self-isolate on arrival and until the result of your day 2 test is known. You may only leave self-isolation if the test is negative.

These measures apply to all persons (including UK nationals and residents) arriving in the UK from outside the common travel area comprising the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. The British Overseas Territories are not in the common travel area. Public health requirements may vary depending upon in which nation of the UK you are staying.

England:https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

Northern Ireland:https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-advice

Scotland:https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine

Wales:https://gov.wales/arriving-wales-overseas

It is a legal requirement that you wear a face covering on public transport in Northern Ireland.

Failure to comply with these measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. There are a limited set of exemptions from these measures. Check the list of exemptions carefully. You may be fined if you fraudulently claim an exemption.

England: https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control

Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-advice

Scotland: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine

Wales: https://gov.wales/arriving-wales-overseas

Failure to comply with these measures is a criminal offence and you could be fined. There are a limited set of exemptions from these measures. You may be fined if you fraudulently claim an exemption.

Requirement to implement and maintain processes and systems

7A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Offences

Power to use and disclose information

Records and information

10A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Requirement to provide information to passengers in a certain manner

Part 3A — Fixed penalty notices

Fixed penalty notices

11A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Amount of fixed penalty

11B

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Effect of fixed penalty notice

11C

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Procedure where a fixed penalty notice has not been paid

Registration certificates

11D

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Registration of penalty

11E

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Challenge to notice

11F

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Setting aside of sum enforceable under regulation 11E

11G

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PART 3 — Relevant websites

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.gov.uk/provide-journey-contact-details-before-travel-uk

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice

https://gov.wales/arriving-wales-overseas

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/