Section 48 and Schedule 18: Powers to act for the protection of public health: Northern Ireland Section 51 and Schedule 21: Powers relating to potentially infectious persons
The section and Schedule confer certain powers on public health officers, constables and immigration officers for the purposes of protecting the public from the health risks associated with the COVID-19.
	The provisions apply in relation to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively, where the relevant authority for that territory is of the view that there is a serious and imminent threat to public health due to the incidence or transmission of the COVID-19, and that the exercise of the powers will be an effective means of delaying or preventing significant further transmission of the virus; and has made a declaration to that effect. The relevant authorities are: for England, the Secretary of State; for Scotland, the Scottish Ministers; for Wales, the Welsh Ministers; and for Northern Ireland, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.
	The provisions confer powers on public health officers to require persons to go to suitable place to undergo screening and assessment where they reasonably suspect the person has or may have COVID-19, or has been in an infected area within the 14 days preceding that time. Such persons are referred to in the provisions as ‘potentially infectious’ persons. There are additional powers for public health officers to impose other appropriate restrictions and requirements upon potentially infectious persons where they are necessary and proportionate, such as a requirement to remain in isolation, restrictions on travel, activities and contact with other people. The provisions also confer powers on public health officers and constables to enforce the restrictions and requirements imposed under the Schedule.
	The Schedule also confers certain powers on immigration officers and constables in relation to persons whom they have reasonable grounds to suspect as being potentially infectious. An immigration officer or a constable may direct such a person to go to a place suitable for screening and assessment, or may remove a person to such a place to undergo screening and assessment, or to keep that person there for a time-limited period to be handed over to a public health officer for the same purpose. In exercising their powers under these provisions, immigration officers and constables are obliged to consult a public health officer, so far as practicable to do so.
	This section revokes the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020.
	The territorial extent of the section and Schedule is England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The application of Part 1 of the Schedule is England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The application of Part 2 of the Schedule is England only. The application of Part 3 of the Schedule is Scotland only. The application of Part 4 of the Schedule is Wales only. The application of Part 5 of the Schedule is Northern Ireland only.