Legislation to formally extend the Covid-19 public health emergency to the end of September is expected to be debated in the House of Assembly today.

The Public Health (Covid-19) Emergency Extension (No. 4) Order 2021, tabled in the House last week, would push back the expiration date of the public health emergency by 38 days.

The order was scheduled to conclude on August 23, but under the amendments the emergency will continue until September 30.

The public health emergency order was originally scheduled to last one year and conclude on April 25, but was pushed back as efforts to control the spread of Covid-19 continued.

The order is one of three matters expected to be debated by the House tomorrow.

Jason Hayward, the Minister of Labour, will lead the debate on the Financial Assistance Extension and Validation Act 2021.

Mr Hayward told the House last week the Government intended to extend the five year limitation of payment to able-bodied, unemployed financial recipients for two years.

He said: “The House should be advised that the five-year term for some financial assistance clients expired on March 31, 2021.

“Accordingly, a retroactive amendment to the legislation will be required to address the issue with respect to payments made since April 1, 2021.”

Curtis Dickinson, the Minister of Finance, is expected to lead a debate on the Incorporated Segregated Accounts Companies Amendment Act 2021.