Offenders who breach Covid-19 safety regulations will be issued with a fixed penalty ticket under legislation passed in the House of Assembly last night.

And public health officers will have the authority to hand out tickets to anyone they find breaking the rules.

Kim Wilson, the health minister, tabled the Public Health Amendment Act 2021 and the Quarantine Amendment Act 2021 in the House of Assembly yesterday morning.

Under the new laws, offenders will avoid criminal prosecution if they pay the fine within 28 days.

Public health officers – effectively any medical professional employed by the department of health – will have to identify themselves before issuing a ticket.

Ms Wilson said the legislation had been drafted after extensive consultation with the Bermuda Police Service and the Department of Public Prosecutions.

She stressed that tickets will initially be issued by the police until health officials have been fully trained.

Ms Wilson said that while serious breaches of Covid-19 restrictions would still go before the courts, material breaches could be dealt with more effectively with on-the-spot fines.

Such breaches include withholding information from contact tracing officers, or holding a party attended by more than the allowed number of guests.

Those found breaking quarantine regulations will also be liable to a ticket.

Renee Ming, the minister for national security, said the bills would “alleviate some of the stress on the Bermuda Police Service”.

Michael Dunkley, the shadow health spokesman, also gave his support.

He said: “On the face of it we fully support and accept the concept.

“It’s sad that we’re debating this only because there are a few among us who have broken the restrictions and so Government has been forced to come up with this ticketing regime.”

He said that the justice system could be “cumbersome” and that there had to be “an easier way” of dealing with offenders.

Scott Pearman, the Opposition spokesman on legal affairs, said the legislation gave the minister too much authority to define what constituted a criminal offence.

“To determine what is a criminal offence is a matter for Parliament, not an individual minister,” he said.

Ms Wilson replied she would ensure that “democratic safeguards do not get overlooked”.

Ms Wilson also brought forward the Public Health (Covid-19) Emergency Extension (No. 2) Order, which extends the public health emergency to June 24.