Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 (“the 1982 Regulations”).

Regulation 2(1) of the 1982 Regulations provides for categories of people to be treated as incapable of work for the purposes of claiming statutory sick pay. The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/287) amend regulation 2(1) to provide that a person who is isolating himself from others in accordance with advice on coronavirus disease effective on 12th March 2020 is deemed to be incapable of work. These Regulations amend that date to 16th March 2020.

That guidance is published in digital form only on the following websites: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information for the public; www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/a-to-z-of-topics/wuhan-novel-coronavirus; and www.phw.nhs.wales/topics/latest-information-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/.

There is a requirement for the Secretary of State to keep these regulations under review, and they will cease to have effect eight months after 13th March 2020 (the date the Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020 came into force).

No regulatory impact assessment has been produced for these Regulations in view of the urgency required to ensure that reference is made to the latest guidance in order to encourage self-isolation and to minimise the risks to public health arising from coronavirus disease.