UK PM Boris Jhonson delays reopening by a month due to Delta variant

Plans to lift COVID-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom have been delayed by a month by the English Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Previously, the country was set to reopen completely on June 21, but now it will open on July 19. The decision comes after the country reported cases of deadly Delta variant of COVID-19.

Calling it a difficult decision, the PM in a press conference said, "I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer." He further added that they are giving the NHS some more weeks to vaccinate remaining people.
“As things stand, and on the evidence that I can see right now, I'm confident that we will not need more than four weeks. But now is the time to ease off the accelerator," Johnson added.

The country aims at vaccinating most adults with at least one dose by July 19. As per the UK's government site, 79.2 percent of adults have received at least one dose of vaccine and 56.9 percent are fully vaccinated.
At present, the country is in Step 3 of its reopening plan. In this, restaurants and pubs are allowed to open but have a capacity cap. Moreover, UK residents are allowed to travel internationally. In Step 4, the country will lift curbs on social contact and events.

According to the English government, the decision will be reviewed on June 28 and if everything goes fine, the country will reopen on July 19.