England delays Covid reopening for four weeks: Johnson

As expected,British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday announced a four-week delay to the full lifting of coronavirus restrictions in England due to a surge in infections caused by the Delta variant. The delay comes as a blow to Johnson's plans to fully reopen the UK economy on June 21 after months of gradually easing restrictions since March. Newspapers had been counting down to what had been dubbed "Freedom Day", which was set to mark an end to all social distancing restrictions and the reopening of nightclubs.

Johnson said a sharp rise in infections had prompted a decision to "ease off the accelerator" and focus instead on ramping up vaccinations.  "On the evidence I can see right now, I'm confident that we will not need more than four weeks and won't need to go beyond July 19," Johnson told a press briefing. Health policy is devolved in the four nations that make up the UK, handled separately in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In England, most current rules -- including limits on the number of people who can meet in pubs and restaurants -- will remain in place until July 19, although restrictions on the number of guests allowed at weddings will be lifted.Large scale pilot events, such as Euro 2020 football matches, will also go ahead as planned.