Ukraine has extended a state of emergency that allows regional authorities to impose COVID-19 restrictions for a further month until October 1 to tackle a surge in infections from the rapidly spreading Delta variant, Ukrinform news agency reported on Wednesday, citing Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal.

"Unfortunately, experts are beginning to register the first negative trends in terms of hospitalization of those seriously ill, therefore the government is adopting a decree to extend the state of emergency and adaptive lockdown until October 1," Shmygal said during a televised cabinet meeting.