reasonably necessary for childcare reasonably necessary to provide emergency assistance; or to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm intended for elite sportspersons to fulfil a legal obligation. Businesses, charities and public or political bodies that hosted larger events on land used as a visitor attraction, or which was part of business or charitable premises, were also exempt from the penalty provided that a risk assessment had been carried out and all reasonable measures taken to limit virus transmission. Breaches of the regulations (other than for hosting or facilitating a gathering of the type described above) attracted a fixed penalty of £100. 'Rule of six' regulations, 14 September 2020 The regulations were further amended with effect from 14 September 2020 by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (England) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/986) to reduce the permitted gathering size for most gatherings from thirty people to six, except for members of the same household or linked households, or where an exemption applied. Government statements referred to this as "the rule of six". Legal basis As with the original regulations, SI 2020/986 was introduced using emergency powers under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 to enact the regulations "by reason of urgency" subject to retrospective approval by resolution of each House of Parliament within twenty-eight days, although uniquely these amendments were made by the Home Secretary, Priti Patel. The legal basis for the use of the powers was stated to be as before. 'Rule of six' The new general rule, subject to some exceptions, was that gatherings of more than six people were banned. Most distinctions between indoor and outdoor gatherings were removed, and the regulations applied to gatherings in private dwellings and indoor public spaces as well as elsewhere. The regulations did not loosen any stricter local regulations which applied in certain regions of England, specifically in those regions where smaller gatherings in private dwellings were already prohibited. Linked households The concept of "linked households" introduced on 15 June by SI 2020/588 was revived. A household containing exactly one adult (no more) and any number of children could form a permanent link with one other household of any size (such linked households were referred to in government statements as "support bubbles"). Households which were already linked under earlier regulations could not link with any other household. Gatherings of any size where