Coronavirus Act 2020

Coronavirus Act 2020

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision in connection with coronavirus; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2020 c. 7
Introduced by	Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Commons) James Bethell, 5th Baron Bethell (Lords)
Territorial extent	England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland (varies by provision)[1]
Dates
Royal assent	25 March 2020
Commencement	25 March 2020[a]
Expired	Partially expired 25 March 2022, some provisions still in force[2]
Other legislation
Relates to	Civil Contingencies Act 2004 Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020
Status: Amended
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that granted the government emergency powers to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. The act allowed the government the discretionary power to limit or suspend public gatherings, to detain individuals suspected to be infected by COVID-19, and to intervene or relax regulations in a range of sectors to limit transmission of the disease, ease the burden on public health services, and assist healthcare workers and the economically affected. Areas covered by the act included the National Health Service, social care, schools, police, Border Force, local councils, funerals and courts. The act was introduced to Parliament on 19 March 2020, and passed the House of Commons without a vote on 23 March, and the House of Lords on 25 March. The act received royal assent on 25 March 2020.^[3]

The act specified a two-year time limit that could be shortened or lengthened by six months at ministerial discretion.^[4] Several of the act's provisions were revoked early, on 17 July 2021, while certain others were extended for six months beyond the two-year period.

Politicians from several parties demanded closer parliamentary scrutiny of the legislation while it was being debated in Parliament.^[5] Advocacy groups such as Liberty and Disability Rights UK likewise called for closer examination of the act and raised concerns over its effects on human rights during and after the pandemic.^[6]

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