UK's Johnson set to announce delay to end of Covid restrictions

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson

* Johnson to hold Covid news conference later on Monday * Several weeks' delay expected to June 21 lockdown end * More support for hard-hit businesses expected * Delta variant of Covid-19 poses higher infection risk British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce on Monday that the end of Covid-19 restrictions will be delayed by several weeks following concerns about a rapid rise of Delta variant infections. Under a road map outlined by Johnson in February, the government said all social restrictions would be lifted ‘no earlier’ than June 21, when pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and other hospitality venues could fully reopen. But in recent weeks there has been fast growth in new cases caused by the Delta variant, first discovered in India, which health officials believe to be 60% more transmissible than the previous dominant strain and scientists warn could trigger a third wave of infections.