LONDON (AP) — The number of new coronavirus infections in the U.K. has hit a near two-month high. There is growing speculation that the new variant of the virus first identified in India may prompt the British government to delay further easing lockdown restrictions in England. Another 4,182 confirmed cases were reported Friday across the U.K., the highest daily figure since April 1. They bring the confirmed infections reported over the past seven days to 20,765, a 24% increase from the previous week. The rise prompted scientists to say the U.K. is now in the midst of a third wave of the pandemic. British regulators on Friday also authorized the single-dose vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson.
