Theatergoers at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End
The rising number of cases of the India variant of the coronavirus, also known as the Delta variant, has set back efforts in the England to lift most Covid-19 restrictions.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce a delay of up to four weeks in an address scheduled for Monday afternoon.
In his statement, according to several people with knowledge of his plans, the prime minister is expected to say that the high number of cases directly attributable to the variant, which scientists refer to as B.1.617, makes it impossible to end the remaining restrictions on June 21, as had been planned.
The current rules allow restaurants and pubs to operate with limited capacity but indoor venues such as theaters and nightclubs, including theaters in London’s West End, are closed.
Andrew Lloyd Weber, a music impresario known for musicals such as “Cats” and “The Phantom of the Opera,” weeks ago pledged to reopen his theaters with full capacity on June 21. He told the Telegraph that his new production of “Cinderella” will open “come hell or high water” on June 25.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
