This instrument will give Local Authorities powers relating to the control and prevention of coronavirus. They can be used if there is a serious and imminent threat to public health.

Any direction issued must be necessary and proportionate to prevent, protect against, control or provide a public health response to the incidence or spread of coronavirus in the local authority’s area. Under regulation 2(4), the local authority must first have regard to advice given by its director of public health (or its interim or acting director of public health), before determining whether to give a direction as set under Regulations 4, 5 or 6.

Local Authorities are defined under regulation 1 as: a county council in England; a district council in England for an area for which there is no county council; a London borough council; the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a local authority, and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.