The Department for Communities has made a Statutory Rule entitled “The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020” (S.R. 2020 No. 89), which comes into operation on 1 June 2020.

These Regulations amend the Schedule to the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations (NI) 1982 (S.R. 1982 No. 263) to add a new category of persons who are deemed to be incapable of work by reason of coronavirus.

The effect of this amendment is to provide that a person who has been advised, by a relevant notification, that they have had contact with a person who has symptoms of coronavirus or has been infected by coronavirus, and that they should stay at home and self-isolate as a result, is deemed to be incapable of work, and therefore entitled to Statutory Sick Pay. This forms an important part of the NI Executive’s Contact Tracing strategy.

Copies of the Rule may be purchased from the Stationery Office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0333 202 5070 or viewed online at www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr.