LONDON, England: As a Covid variant has taken hold in Britain, plans to eliminate the remaining Covid restrictions might be delayed by one month.

Plans had called for ending Covid restrictions on June 21. However, the fast spreading Delta variant from India has resulted in rising cases of new Covid infections in Britain.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now expected to announce a one month extension of Covid restrictions this week, British media has reported.

A one month delay would mean restrictions in the UK would be lifted on July 19.

British government policy has sought to ease Covid restrictions based upon medical data from throughout the country. Earlier this past week, however, Johnson warned about increasing infections being caused by the Indian variant.

As of Friday, Britain reported 8,125 new COVID-19 cases, which is the highest daily total since February. Experts noted that the daily growth rates were higher in the latest estimates, as the virus is spreading quickly.

Johnson repeatedly warned that the government anticipated increases in new Covid cases after the easing of the lockdowns in May.

Officials said the focus on ending the lockdown has been centered on whether the percentage of vaccinations administered throughout the country has broken the link between cases and new deaths.

More than three-quarters of British adults have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

While Britain’s COVID-19 death toll is over 127,000, the numbers of deaths have fallen sharply due to lockdowns and the success of the vaccination program.