New powers to combat the spread of coronavirus are to come into force across Northern Ireland from 23:00 GMT on Saturday.NI gets there:
Executive approves new powers to protect the public
Date published: 28 March 2020
Sweeping new powers will come into force across Northern Ireland tonight at 11pm to combat the spread of Coronavirus.
The regulations will prohibit anyone from leaving home without a reasonable excuse and compel the closure of certain premises.
The NI Executive agreed the powers in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Penalties, ranging from fixed penalty notices to fines of up to £5,000, are being introduced as enforcement.
The powers also ban gatherings of more than two people.
The executive has also agreed that:
Anyone who can work from home must work from home
- Employers must facilitate working from home where it is feasible
- No employer should compel an employee to come to work if it is feasible to work from home
- Every employer must take all reasonable steps to safeguard the health, safety and wellbeing of employees during the COVID-19 emergency, whether working from home or in the workplace
- Every employer must have particular regard to the safety of employees in the workplace and must put into effect the guidance on social distancing issued by the Department for the Economy
- Every employer has a legal duty to ensure, so far as it is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
- Where a business is failing to observe the Department for the Economy guidance and breaching the legal duty on health and safety, the statutory authorities will take robust action, which may include prosecution for criminal offences
- Where necessary, the Executive Office will also use its power of direction to close or restrict businesses that do not ensure the safety of their employees.