KYIV, Aug 11 - Ukraine has extended a state of emergency that allows regional authorities to impose COVID-19 restrictions for a further month until Oct. 1 to tackle a surge in infections from the rapidly spreading Delta variant, Reuters reported Wednesday citing the prime minister.

"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 Oct. 1," premier Denys Shmyhal said during a televised weekly cabinet meeting.

The "adaptive lockdown" means regional authorities have the power to tighten or ease restrictions depending on the situation locally. The state of emergency had been due to expire at the end of August.

Ukraine's seven-day average daily number of new cases has risen above 1,000 since mid-July, after authorities lifted most restrictions and maintained only mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing requirements.

Ukraine has resumed PCR testing for unvaccinated travelers arriving to the country and has declared it’s mandatory to self-isolate after visiting Russia and India amid growing concerns over the Delta coronavirus strain.

The establishment of quarantine and the introduction of restrictive anti-epidemic measures are aimed at preventing the spread of acute COVID-19 in Ukraine, according to a regulation published on the government’s website.

The new restrictions come less than a week after the National Bank of Ukraine has issued concerns that the resurging new COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta strain may have negative impact on the country’s economic growth.

For those arriving from Russia and India, as well as those who have been on their territory for seven days in the last 14 days, there will be no opportunity to terminate self-isolation early: they will be required to go through a 14-day self-isolation or observation.

Ukraine, with a population of 41 million, has been among the most affected European countries, with around 2.3 million COVID-19 cases and 53,149 deaths as of Aug. 11, while only 2.5 million have been fully vaccinated so far. (om/ez)