COVID-19 restrictions update

08/01/2021

From 00:01 this morning further restrictions have come into force in Northern Ireland to help manage the outbreak of COVID-19 and will be in place until 6 February with a review later in January.

Whilst the primary change is a legally enforceable stay-at-home message, there are exemptions for certain sectors including the construction sector. RSUA’s understanding of what this means for architects is:

• Architects should work from home if they are able to 
• Where an architect can not work from home, for example work necessitates that an architect attends the office, site visit or client meeting, this is permitted. 
• Architects can continue to go into peoples houses in the course of their job
• Employers who require staff to come into the workplace must complete a mandatory risk assessment (HSENI has further advice here)

Further detailed information is available at NI Business Info, Public Health Agency and NI Direct