Coronavirus bill explained: all the new emergency powers contained in the government’s Covid-19 plans The new possible measures explained, from shutting ports and airports to allowing police to force people into quarantine

As the Government ramps up its coronavirus response, it has revealed the emergency powers it intends implement when necessary, from shutting ports and airports to allowing police to force people into quarantine.

The powers in the bill will last up to two years, but the Government has stressed that not all may be used, and those that are used should only be used when necessary.

The powers range from loosening regulations in key parts of the response, such as the health service and death management, to attempting to beef up the health and social care workforce with volunteers, retirees and students.

The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

All the key provisions are summarised below:

The health and social care workforce

One of the most spoken-about aspects of the emergency powers bill relates to the plan to allow retired NHS doctors and nurses back into the frontline to help deal with the anticipated huge burden on the health service.

That is in there: there is a technical change to rules to allow recently retired medical professionals back on the register, but it should be said that because some older medics are in high risk categories or otherwise not well prepared for a return to the frontline, the numbers yielded by such a move may not be huge.

Students who are almost fully trained will also be allowed on to the register early, with graduations already moving forward for some.

Similar steps are in place for recently retired social carers, and the bill also allows for volunteers to take unpaid leave from other work in order to join a volunteer force that is intended to provide backup.

There are also changes providing legal protection for workers as they deal with coronavirus, in case the care takes place outside the usual hospital framework.

Easing the burden

The second section of the bill deals more technically with the reshuffling of priorities in the health service that might become necessary.

It gets rid of some of the set-in-stone rules from the 2014 Care Act on who is entitled to what care and when, allowing staff to address the overwhelming clinical priority (coronavirus) in spite of existing targets for other conditions.

It will also make it easier to section people, on the opinion of one doctor instead of two, and remove time limits in mental health care, anticipating a situation where it’s difficult to provide care in the usual way.

Mental health units have been asked to investigate how they could help treat coronavirus patients.

The bill also loosens some rules for local authorities and educational institutions in the temporary case where they’re not able to fulfil their legal duties fully.

Courts can increase the use of remote video links, and there are some technical changes to protect the national security apparatus’s ability to operate.

The Home Secretary can also shut airports and ports if a shortage of border security personnel becomes an issue.

Lockdown provisions

The Government will give itself an arsenal of powers to delay the spread of coronavirus in the third section. Much of this work has been happening on the basis of advice, but the emergency powers bolster the moves.

Police and immigration officers will be able to forcibly quarantine people.

It will be able to shut events and gatherings of all sorts, and to close premises.

It will be able to shut schools and childcare facilities.

It will be able to postpone elections.

It also extends certain powers to Scotland and Northern Ireland which currently exist in England and Wales to ensure a joined-up response.

Managing the deceased

Certain provisions are directed towards powers to deal with a potential spike in deaths compared to usual.

Most of these affect service providers rather than families, including changes to who must certify deaths and how the documentation is transmitted.

Some restrictions on cremations will be lifted, and local authorities will be able to take control of death management processes in extremis.

Supporting people

The bill will remove the wait for statutory sick pay, making it available from the first day of illness to discourage self-isolating workers from turning up.

Smaller businesses – below 250 employees – will be able to claim back the statutory sick pay from Government.