The Irish government is set to announce an increase to the self-isolation period for British travellers, going up from five days to 10.
Under current rules, people arriving in Ireland from Britain must provide a negative PCR test result and then have to self-isolate at home, but can leave isolation after five days with a second negative PCR test.
The new, tougher rules will apply to partially vaccinated people - and not British travellers who are fully vaccinated.
Travellers from Ireland to Britain face no such restrictions.
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Irish transport minister Eamon Ryan said the "cautious" move was to hold back the spread of the Delta variant, the dominant coronavirus variant in Britain, until the Irish vaccination programme further rolls out.
"The more we can delay its spread," he told RTE Radio. "The better protection we'll have."
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The presence of the Delta variant has been confirmed in Ireland, but at a much lower incidence level than in Britain.
The Irish government has serious concerns that the strain, which is at least 60% more transmissible than the original Alpha variant, could take hold and jeopardise plans for a wider reopening of society on 5 July.
The new plan for arrivals from Britain will be considered by the Irish cabinet at its usual Tuesday meeting, and official confirmation is expected this afternoon.
Boris Johnson has announced a four-week delay in lifting lockdown restrictions in England to 19 July amid rising cases of the Delta variant.
The PM said the postponement of step four of the government's roadmap, which was due to take place on 21 June, will allow for more people to receive their second jab before further easing of restrictions takes place.
By 19 July there will be a "very considerable wall of immunity around the whole of the population", he added.
The proposed extension will be reviewed to see if action can be taken two weeks sooner on Monday 5 July.
MPs will get to have their say on the delay in a Commons vote, the PM's spokesperson has said.
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Second jab crucial to defeat Delta variant
The government believes the four-week delay could save thousands of lives.
More on Boris Johnson
The time between vaccine doses has also been shortened for people aged over 40 - from 12 weeks to eight weeks - with all in this age group to be offered a second dose by the week of 19 July.
This will mean two-thirds of adults will have been offered both doses by that date. All over-18s will have been invited for their first jab by 19 July.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, the PM said it is "sensible" to put back the end of all legal limits on social contact to 19 July and that he is "confident" no further delay will be necessary.
"We can simply keep going with all of Step 4 on 21 June, even though there is a real possibility that the virus will outrun the vaccines and that thousands more deaths would ensue which could otherwise have been avoided.
"Or else we can give the NHS a few more crucial weeks to get those remaining jabs into the arms of those who need them," Mr Johnson said.
Image:The time between vaccine doses has been shortened for people aged over 40 from 12 weeks to eight weeks
"And since today I cannot say that that we have met all our four tests for proceeding with Step 4 on 21 June, I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer.
"We will monitor the position every day and if, after two weeks, we have concluded that the risk has diminished then we reserve the possibility of proceeding to step four, and a full opening, sooner."
Data suggests that the Delta variant is between 40% and 80% more transmissible than the Alpha variant and is rapidly driving up case numbers, No 10 said.
Cases are increasing by around 64% each week. Hospitalisations are also starting to rise, they added.
England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, warned the NHS could "run into trouble" if the number of people being admitted to hospital with coronavirus continues on an "exponential path".
He added that delaying the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in England will "reduce significantly the risk of a very high peak" in infections in the coming weeks.
The decision to postpone the easing of measures comes as new analysis by Public Health England (PHE) shows for the first time that two doses of COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta variant.
Image:The advice remains to work from home where you can
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective against hospitalisation after a second dose, with the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab 92% effective.
Venues will conduct their own risk assessment on the number of people that can safely attend.
Rules on social distancing, singing and dancing will remain in place, with guests told to sit on tables of up to six people and receptions to be table service only.
Dance floors are forbidden inside, while for private ceremonies outdoors, dancing will not be illegal, but will be strongly advised against.
For weddings taking place inside private homes, the limit of six individuals will remain, with an exception in place for deathbed ceremonies where 30 people can attend.
Image:The 30-person limit for wedding ceremonies will be scrapped despite the delay
The PM said: "We are saying that weddings can go ahead with more than 30 people, we are lifting that restriction on 30 people from 21 June providing social distancing is observed."
The requirement for care home residents to quarantine for 14 days after a visit outside of a home has also been scrapped, however patients will still have to isolate for two weeks following a hospital visit.
Elsewhere, the government announced more pilot mass events will take place within the next four weeks, with Euro 2020 matches to be included in the trials.
Under the PM's new plan, the guidance that "everyone who can work from home must do so" remains in place until step four is enacted.
Pubs remain restricted to table service and theatres and other indoor venues will be remain capped at 50% capacity.
There will be no changes to the furlough scheme despite the four-week delay, the prime minister's spokesperson confirmed.
Image:The delay has been described as a 'catastrophe' for the theatre and live entertainment sector
He added that there is "no suggestion of re-imposing or moving back down through the roadmap" but that the government is keeping the data constantly under review.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said Labour will support the extension of restrictions but said they are only needed as Mr Johnson "left the backdoor open and let the [Delta] variant wash up on our shores".
"Tonight's announcement was predicted and predictable and will come as a massive blow to businesses across the country, to people who've done the right thing going to get their vaccination.
"But we're in this state because BJ failed to protect our borders: our borders were about as safe as a sieve. We had a weak puny border policy that allowed this variant to get into the country and then spread," Mr Ashworth said.
Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the delay will cause many business to "worry".
Image:The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is calling for urgent intervention from government
"The Government must now act urgently to extend economic support to all businesses who need it - including extending the full business rates holiday, the evictions moratorium and the existing furlough scheme until all restrictions are lifted," he said.
In a statement, Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire of Trafalgar Entertainment said: "This delay is yet another bungle from a government that wouldn't be given a single star in a review of its performance. The confusion and muddled-messages are reminiscent of a West End farce."
Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, added: "The proposed four-week delay to full reopening of live entertainment venues will have serious implications for many theatres and performing companies around the country."
And the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) is calling for urgent intervention from government.
AIF CEO Paul Reed said in the event of mass cancellations, UK festivals will require a swift and comprehensive rescue package and targeted contingency fund that can be accessed from July 2021 to be saved.
It is likely that those who died were elderly or had pre-existing conditions (Picture: Getty Images)
Almost one third of people in the UK who have so far died from the Indian variant had received both their vaccinations.
Just weeks before England aimed to scrap coronavirus regulations for good, the variant – now officially named ‘Delta’ – has caused cases to soar, sparking fears of another wave of the disease.
But infection numbers are not necessarily what will delay ‘Freedom Day’ on June 21, as scientists will analyse the number of people being hospitalised and dying from the virus.
A new report from Public Health England (PHE) shows out of the 42 British people known to have died with the Delta variant, 12 of them (29%) were fully vaccinated with two doses.
In notes seen by the Sunday Telegraph, PHE epidemiologist Meaghan Kall recorded this ‘percentage of severe outcomes among people [with vaccine] breakthrough infections’ on Friday.
She observed: ‘Who are they and why is that happening? Work ongoing to understand the profile of fully vaxxed people with severe outcomes.’
But it is likely the vaccinated people who died were elderly or sick with pre-existing conditions, and their immunity had dwindled since getting their jabs.
The Delta variant is known to be around 60% more transmissible (Picture: Getty Images)
The UK has not yet vaccinated enough people to achieve herd immunity (Picture: PA)
The same PHE report estimated that one dose of the vaccine would be 33% effective against symptomatic disease, and two doses would be 81% effective.
Estimates around the jab’s protection against severe disease and death were more positive – 80% after one dose and 95% after two.
But these are just approximate judgements, as PHE says it does not yet have the evidence to know these numbers for sure.
Nevertheless, realities close to these estimates could put the UK into the clear – but not enough people have been vaccinated yet for the country to achieve herd immunity.
The percentage of jabs needed to constitute herd immunity differs with each disease, but scientists believe between 60% and 70% of its citizens need to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
As of June 12, 56% of the adult population had both their jabs.
This, compounded with 96% of all coronavirus cases in the UK being traced back to the 60% more transmissible Delta variant, means the virus can still spread.
It comes as the current number of cases of the Delta variant jumped by 29,892 up to 42,323 in just one week.
Boris Johnson is set to address the nation on Monday, when he is expected to delay the country’s Freedom Day from June 12 to July 19 at the earliest.
The prime minister told Sky News: ‘It’s clear that the Delta variant is more transmissible and it’s also true that the cases are going up, and that the levels of hospitalisation are going up.
‘Now, we don’t know exactly to what extent that is going to feed through into extra mortality, but clearly it’s a matter of serious, serious concern.
‘What we want to do is make sure that the road map is irreversible, but you can’t have an irreversible road map unless you’re prepared to be cautious. Some of the data is still open to question, but we’ll be making an announcement on Monday.’
Boris Johnson has announced a four-week delay in lifting lockdown restrictions in England to 19 July amid rising cases of the Delta variant.
The PM said the postponement of step four of the government's roadmap, which was due to take place on 21 June, will allow for more people to receive their second jab before further easing of restrictions takes place.
By 19 July there will be a "very considerable wall of immunity around the whole of the population", he added.
The proposed extension will be reviewed to see if action can be taken two weeks sooner on Monday 5 July.
MPs will get to have their say on the delay in a Commons vote, the PM's spokesperson has said.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Second jab crucial to defeat Delta variant
The government believes the four-week delay could save thousands of lives.
More on Boris Johnson
The time between vaccine doses has also been shortened for people aged over 40 - from 12 weeks to eight weeks - with all in this age group to be offered a second dose by the week of 19 July.
This will mean two-thirds of adults will have been offered both doses by that date. All over-18s will have been invited for their first jab by 19 July.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, the PM said it is "sensible" to put back the end of all legal limits on social contact to 19 July and that he is "confident" no further delay will be necessary.
"We can simply keep going with all of Step 4 on 21 June, even though there is a real possibility that the virus will outrun the vaccines and that thousands more deaths would ensue which could otherwise have been avoided.
"Or else we can give the NHS a few more crucial weeks to get those remaining jabs into the arms of those who need them," Mr Johnson said.
Image:The time between vaccine doses has been shortened for people aged over 40 from 12 weeks to eight weeks
"And since today I cannot say that that we have met all our four tests for proceeding with Step 4 on 21 June, I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer.
"We will monitor the position every day and if, after two weeks, we have concluded that the risk has diminished then we reserve the possibility of proceeding to step four, and a full opening, sooner."
Data suggests that the Delta variant is between 40% and 80% more transmissible than the Alpha variant and is rapidly driving up case numbers, No 10 said.
There are currently around 8,000 cases a day, the highest since the end of February, and these are increasing by around 64% each week. Hospitalisations are also starting to rise, they added.
England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned the NHS could "run into trouble" if the number of people being admitted to hospital with coronavirus continues on an "exponential path".
The decision to postpone the easing of measures comes as new analysis by Public Health England (PHE) shows for the first time that two doses of COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalisation from the Delta variant.
Image:The advice remains to work from home where you can
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 96% effective against hospitalisation after a second dose, with the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab 92% effective.
Venues will conduct their own risk assessment on the number of people that can safely attend.
Rules on social distancing, singing and dancing will remain in place, with guests told to sit on tables of up to six people and receptions to be table service only.
Dance floors are forbidden inside, while for private ceremonies outdoors, dancing will not be illegal, but will be strongly advised against.
For weddings taking place inside private homes, the limit of six individuals will remain, with an exception in place for deathbed ceremonies where 30 people can attend.
Image:The 30-person limit for wedding ceremonies will be scrapped despite the delay
The PM said: "We are saying that weddings can go ahead with more than 30 people, we are lifting that restriction on 30 people from 21 June providing social distancing is observed."
The requirement for care home residents to quarantine for 14 days after a visit outside of a home has also been scrapped, however patients will still have to isolate for two weeks following a hospital visit.
Elsewhere, the government announced more pilot mass events will take place within the next four weeks, with Euro 2020 matches to be included in the trials.
Under the PM's new plan, the guidance that "everyone who can work from home must do so" remains in place until step four is enacted.
Pubs remain restricted to table service and theatres and other indoor venues will be remain capped at 50% capacity.
There will be no changes to the furlough scheme despite the four-week delay, the prime minister's official spokesperson confirmed.
Image:The delay has been described as a 'catastrophe' for the theatre and live entertainment sector
He added that there is "no suggestion of re-imposing or moving back down through the roadmap" but that the government is keeping the data constantly under review.
Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said Labour will support the extension of restrictions but said they are only needed as Mr Johnson "left the backdoor open and let the [Delta] variant wash up on our shores".
"Tonight's announcement was predicted and predictable and will come as a massive blow to businesses across the country, to people who've done the right thing going to get their vaccination.
"But we're in this state because BJ failed to protect our borders: our borders were about as safe as a sieve. We had a weak puny border policy that allowed this variant to get into the country and then spread," Mr Ashworth said.
In a statement, Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire of Trafalgar Entertainment said: "This delay is yet another bungle from a Government that wouldn't be given a single star in a review of its performance. The confusion and muddled-messages are reminiscent of a West End farce."
Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, added: "The proposed four-week delay to full reopening of live entertainment venues will have serious implications for many theatres and performing companies around the country."
Musician Frank Turner says lockdown delay is 'disheartening'
The singer-songwriter has warned that a delay to the end of lockdown will tip some music businesses into "final collapse".
In a thread on Twitter, Turner, who is a patron of the Music Venue Trust, described the impact a delay will have on the live music sector.
Turner said the last weeks have been "about the hardest part of the whole shebang" with regards to "mental health, morale and economics".
He wrote: "So it looks like the lifting of social restrictions here in the UK is going to be pushed back again today. It's disheartening, but it is what it is. A quick thought tho.
"I'm not an epidemiologist, and I'm not here to argue the medical/scientific side of things. It may well be this is the right thing to do. A small point I feel bound to make is this:
"A *lot* of people are loudly asking the question 'What's the big deal? How much of a difference does a 4 week delay (or whatever) make?' And the answer to that is, for some of us, a lot.
"Some people, as far as I can tell, are not far off being back to living their normal lives. And that's great, I'm happy for them. Some of us really, really aren't.
"The delay is going to tip some businesses into final collapse. It's another blow to morale, another financial loss, after an appalling year and more.
"That's just in my industry, live music. There are many more affected by this."
Hospitalisations rising - but not as quickly as previous waves
Former chief scientific adviser Professor Sir Mark Walport has revealed the number of people in hospital with COVID is rising, but not with the intensity of previous waves.
This is the key metric we have been waiting for - to see if rising cases, driven by the Delta variant, was translating into more people getting seriously ill.
"Sadly we are in the grip of the early stages of a third wave of the virus and it is this Delta variant, the so-called Indian variant, which has a very significant transmission advantage over the previous Alpha variant, the so-called Kent variant - it's about 60% more transmissible," Sir Mark told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"We've got 7,000 cases on average per day at the moment, and a doubling time which is somewhere around a week.
"More than 90% of the new infections in the UK are of this variant, and it is rising in most parts of the country, though not all.
"The good news is we would be in real trouble if not for the enormous success of the vaccination programme and so we have got 75% of all adults have had the first dose and 50% who've had a second dose."
He added: "This variant shows some partial escape, particularly from the first dose - so first dose of vaccine is about 30% effective compared to 50% with the previous variant.
"We are starting to see hospital numbers rise, though fortunately with nothing like the intensity we saw previously."
