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Coronavirus Bill

The Bill is designed to provide the Government and the authorities with wide ranging powers to respond to the current health crisis. It will cover the following areas:

• Workforce
• Easing Pressure
• Limiting Contact
• Controlling Borders
• Sick Pay

For Practitioners the area's most topical are summarized below:

There will be powers:

• To remove or direct persons to places or premises suitable for health screening

These powers are provided to

• Public Health Officers
• A Constable
• An Immigration Officer

And they can exercise the powers:

• In the interests of the person so directed
• For the protection of others and for the maintenance of public health.

The Public Health Officer will also have the power to require a 'subject' to remain at a 'screening location for up to 48 hours and if, after assessment the subject is believed to be infectious there are further powers to require the subject to

• Provide information to the Public Health Officer
• Provide contact details for future screening
• To go to a 'Specified Place' for a period not in excess of 14 days. (this has to be reviewed once in every 24 hrs

RIGHT OF APPEAL

The 'subject' has a right to appeal the decision via a hearing which would be listed at a local Magistrates Court

OFFENCES

Can be summarized as follows:

• Failure to comply with any Reasonable Instruction/Direction
• Fail to comply with any duty of care towards children
• Absconding or attempting to abscond whilst travelling to at a 'Place of Safety' **
• Knowingly providing false or misleading information
• Obstruction of a person attempting to exercise powers under the Legislation

All the offences are punishable by a fine of up to £1000.00

The legislation also extends powers to 'Events, Gatherings and Premises' in order to prevent, protect and delay the onset of the virus.

If a person on charge of such an 'event' fails to comply with any restriction or requirement they are liable to a fine on summary conviction

For more information contact Rod Hall in our Regulatory department via email or phone on 01772 220213. Alternatively send any question through to Forbes Solicitors via our online Contact Form.

Learn more about our Regulatory department here

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