Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Travel from Denmark) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and come into force at 4.00 a.m. on 14th November 2020.

(2) In these Regulations, "the International Travel Regulations" means the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020(2).

Amendment of the International Travel Regulations

2.-(1) The International Travel Regulations are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 4-

(a) at the beginning of paragraph (14), for "Paragraph (13)" substitute "Except in the cases described in paragraph (15), paragraph (13)";

(b) after paragraph (14), insert-

"(15) The cases referred to in paragraph (14) are-

(a) a domestic elite sportsperson who-

(i) has travelled to Denmark to participate in training for or to compete in the men's international football match between Denmark and Iceland taking place on Sunday 15th November 2020 at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, and

(ii) has returned to England to continue their activities as a sportsperson;

(b) a domestic ancillary sportsperson or a multinational ancillary sportsperson who-

(i) has travelled to Denmark to provide medical or technical support to an elite sportsperson participating in training for or competing in the men's international football match between Denmark and Iceland taking place on Sunday 15th November 2020 at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, and

(ii) has returned to England to continue to provide medical or technical support to a domestic elite sportsperson;

(c) a person residing with a person described in sub-paragraph (a) or (b);

(d) an international elite sportsperson who travels to England, after departing from or transiting through Denmark at any time in the period beginning with the 14th day before the date of their arrival in England, to participate in training for or to compete in the men's international football match between England and Iceland taking place on Wednesday 18th November 2020 at Wembley Stadium in London; and

(e) an international ancillary sportsperson who travels to England, after departing from or transiting through Denmark at any time in the period beginning with the 14th day before the date of their arrival in England, to provide medical, technical or administrative support to an elite sportsperson participating in training for or competing in the men's international football match between England and Iceland taking place on Wednesday 18th November 2020 at Wembley Stadium in London.

(16) In paragraph (15)-

(a) "domestic ancillary sportsperson", "domestic elite sportsperson", "international ancillary sportsperson", "international elite sportsperson" and "multinational ancillary sportsperson" have the meaning given in paragraph 39(2) of Schedule 2;

(b) "elite sportsperson" means an individual who derives a living from competing in a sport.".

(3) In Schedule A1 (exempt countries and territories)-

(a) in Part 1-

(i) for "Greece" substitute "The Greek islands of Corfu, Crete, Kos, Rhodes and Zakynthos";

(ii) insert entries for "Bahrain", "Cambodia", "Chile", "Iceland", "Laos", "Qatar" and "United Arab Emirates" at the appropriate places;

(b) in Part 2-

(i) omit the entry for "The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus";

(ii) insert an entry for "Turks and Caicos Islands" at the appropriate place.

(4) In paragraph 39(2) of Schedule 2 (persons not required to comply with regulation 3 or 4), in the definition of "domestic elite sportsperson", for sub-paragraph (a) substitute-

"(a) derives a living from competing in a sport or is-

(i) a senior representative nominated by a relevant sporting body,

(ii) a member of the senior training squad for a relevant sporting body, or

(iii) aged 16 or above and on an elite development pathway,".

Amendment of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Travel from Denmark) (England) Regulations 2020

3.-(1) Regulation 2 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Travel from Denmark) (England) Regulations 2020(3) is amended as follows.

(2) At the end of paragraph (2), insert-

";

(c) an aircraft carrying passengers comprising only individuals described in sub-paragraphs (a), (b), (d) or (e) of regulation 4(15) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020".

(3) In paragraph (3), for the words from "unless landing in England" to "aboard it", substitute-

"unless-

(a) landing in England is reasonably necessary to secure the safety of the aircraft or the health and safety of any person aboard it;

(b) the landing is only for the purpose of refuelling, or aircraft maintenance, and no passengers are permitted to board or disembark from the aircraft; or

(c) the aircraft is an air ambulance and landing for the purpose of transporting a person for medical treatment".

Transitional and saving provision

4.  In relation to any person who arrived in England on or after 10th July but before 4.00 a.m. on 14th November 2020, the International Travel Regulations apply as if the amendments made by regulation 2(3) had not been made.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/568) and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Travel from Denmark) (England) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1239) to-

(a) remove Greece (other than specified islands) and the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus from the list of exempt countries and territories, in Schedule A1, from which passengers arriving in England are not required to self-isolate;

(b) add Bahrain, Cambodia, Chile, Iceland, Laos, Qatar, Turks and Caicos Islands and United Arab Emirates to that list;

(c) revise the definition of "domestic elite sportsperson", which is relevant to an exemption from the requirement to self-isolate;

(d) make provision in relation to Denmark (described below).

Passengers are not required to self-isolate on arrival in England if, during the 14 days preceding their arrival, they have only been in or transited through exempt countries or territories, or exempt parts of countries or territories. Passengers who have been in or transited through a non-exempt country or territory, or a non-exempt part of a country or territory, must self-isolate until 14 days have elapsed since the day after they last left a non-exempt country or territory, or a non-exempt part of a country or territory. The changes to Schedule A1 will not affect passengers who arrive in England before 4.00 a.m. on 14th November 2020.

In response to an outbreak of a mink-variant of COVID-19-

(a) Denmark was removed from the list of exempt countries and territories (S.I. 2020/1227);

(b) exemptions from the requirement to self-isolate for passengers who had been in or transited through Denmark during the 14 days preceding their arrival in England were removed, and the self-isolation requirement was extended to persons residing with such passengers (S.I. 2020/1238);

(c) a prohibition on the arrival of certain aircraft and vessels departing from Denmark was introduced (S.I. 2020/1239).

Regulation 2(2) introduces a limited exemption from the requirement to self-isolate for persons taking part in, or directly supporting, two specified international sporting events. Regulation 3 allows certain aircraft departing from Denmark to land in England, including in relation to the specified international sporting events.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument. An explanatory memorandum has been published alongside this instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk.