From Friday 27th, you will risk a £60 fine if caught outside your house in Northern Ireland without a ‘reasonable excuse’, during the COVID-19 crisis.
These fines will be issued by the police under new powers to help contain the virus.
The fine is £60 but reduced to £30 if paid within a certain period.
The reasons by which you CAN leave the house are as follows:
During the emergency period. no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.
‘A reasonable excuse includes the need to obtain basic necessities – including food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pet & animals in the household) or for vulnerable persons and supplies for the essential upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household. or the household of a vulnerable person.’
‘To take exercise alone or with other members of their household.’
‘To seek medical assistant.’
To provide care or assistance, including relevant personal care to a vulnerable person or to provide emergency assistance.‘
‘To donate blood.’
To travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable seniccs, where it is not reasonably possible for that person to work, or to provide those services, from the place where they are living.’
To attend a funeral of a member of the person’s household, a close family member.’
‘To fulfil a legal obligation. including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings.’
‘To access critical public services. including – to whom that person is the parent, or has parental responsibility for, or care of the childcare or Educational facilities (where these are still available to a child in relation child), social serviees, services provided by the Department of Work and Pensions or one of services provided to victims (such as victims of crime).’
‘In relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access and contact between, parents and children.’
‘In the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go lo their place of worship.’
‘To move house where reasonably necessary.’
‘To avoid injury or illness or lo escape a risk of harm.’
