Lockdown in Britain has been extended following the escalation of the COVID-19 spread

LONDON: The lockdown imposed in the UK has been extended to July 17 following the escalation of the COVID-19 spread.

According to international media reports, the government has decided to extend the nationwide lockdown and give local governments the right to close pubs, restaurants, shops and public places until July 17.

The move comes as variant viruses are spreading the disease rapidly.

Meanwhile, Authorities have decided to isolate those arriving in the country from COVID-threatened areas for at least 10 days.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made it clear on Friday that he did not intend to relax the lockdown restrictions until he was convinced the vaccine is effective. He said the virus spread is increasing and that genetically modified viruses are causing more than a million deaths.

More than 37 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with COVID-19 so far. 94,329 people died of COVID infection. At the same time, the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine was given to 59 lakh people in the country.