Here is the government's new guidance Staying safe outside your home - a few thoughts on how this interacts with the lockdown law in this thread gov.uk/government/pub… /1
This is the guidance on working - notice the emphasis is still on working on home 'if you can'. This is pretty much identical with what came before and also fits precisely with Regulation 6 re working 
Note use of the term 'reasonable adjustments'. This is usually about the duty to make adjustments so that a person with disabilities can access services and work. Interesting use - perhaps indicative in long term of duty on employers to protect workforce by allowing home work
Again, note use of "where practical" - signal here to employers is to do what they reasonably can to protect their workforce. This fits with duties under health and safety law. See the Health and Safety Executive guidance which is the second image below hse.gov.uk/news/social-di…
This is the second lot of guidance - perhaps even more important than the first. An update to the frequently asked questions document on "what you can and cannot do" gov.uk/government/pub…
This is the important bit - how the guidance will change on Wednesday. As has been fairly clear
- You can now spend time outdoors it would seem without limit "sitting and enjoying the fresh air, picnicking, or sunbathing"
- Meet one person from a different household outdoors ...
- You can now spend time outdoors it would seem without limit "sitting and enjoying the fresh air, picnicking, or sunbathing"
- Meet one person from a different household outdoors ...
- exercise outdoors as often as you wish - following social distancing guidelines, which includes some social distanced sports such as. tennis, golf or basketball (would have to be social distance basketball)
- Go to a garden centre
- Go to a garden centre
There will need to be a change to the legal regulations, particularly as none of these new things are mentioned in the listed "reasonable excuses" under Regulation 6. In my view, Regulation 6 has probably become unnecessary and unworkable so should probably be revoked
... thought having said that the new guidance links to Regulations [THE NON UPDATED VERSION - VERY BAD!]. It is surprising that it says "to get things like food and medicine" - no more mention of 'essential', which was never in the regulations and led to the Easter egg debacle
This is interesting - whilst it is correct the prohibition on public gatherings of more than 2 people not from same household in Regulation 7 allows for gatherings of 2 people, Regulation 6 currently doesn't list this as a reasonable excuse. MUST be amended or revoked in my view
This has been the case all along. I wish the government would explain here that 'vulnerable' has a legal meaning which includes people over 70 legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350
This is new in terms of guidance but in law there has never been a restriction on travelling to exercise or how far
Day trips have never been explicitly banned but I at least assumed that since they don't appear in list of reasonable excuses. They will I imagine appear on that list from Wed. If they don't, they can be assumed to be a reasonable excuse anyway as the list is non-exhaustive
Interesting & raises discrimination concerns. Over 70s who have been advised to should continue to 'shield' until end of June. But nothing in law about (and never has been - except over 70s are a vulnerable group who can lawful be visited) this so it's a matter of discretion
This remains the same - though with a bit more emphasis on people going back to work if not possible from home
This is pretty vague - says, if you are a worker concerned about working conditions contact Health and Safety Executive or (if employer is trying to sack you for not coming in) ACAS. Many people will be worried but in a sense the govt is right that it will very be fact specific
There has been some confusion in the past few weeks about who is 'allowed' to use public transport. Has never been a limit, and still isn't
The right to education is a key human right- but 99% of school age children currently not attending school. Govt focussing on getting the children who are allowed to attend ("vulnerable" and key worker children) as most aren't using the provision they have access to
Making schools safe will obviously be key - govt does have a duty in law to provide education one way or the other to school age children, but it's very tricky in the current situation
This seems a pretty low key version of quarantine for foreign visitors. Devil will be in the detail - what happens if people are caught breaking it? Presumably criminal sanctions, so could be analogous to house arrest in law
Ah, now we get to enforcement. Not sure why the link goes to the wrong regulations (ARGH), links to revoked 2020 regs about quarantine (ARGH ARGH). Fines almost doubling, and the maximum amount for multiple offences going from £960 to £3,200, wow
Oh and this is England only. Says that at the top as well.
That's all folks!
That's all folks!
Think I may have messed up the thread links - try this for the next one
Totally messed this up - go here next
And now go here!
