The SI 350 gave legal backing to the compulsion of social distancing rules .
The SI gave legal force to the social distancing rules announced by Boris Johnson during his televised address to the nation on 23 March 2020.Hancock relied on powers conferred by sections 45C ( 1 ) , ( 3 ) ( c ) , ( 4 ) ( d ) , 45F ( 2 ) and 45P of the Public Health ( Control of Disease ) Act 1984 .
Health Protection -LRB-Coronavirus, Restrictions-RRB- -LRB-England-RRB- Regulations 2020