
There have been 5.2 million confirmed cases of slotxo coronavirus in the UK and more than 128,500 people have died, government figures show.
However, these figures include only people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus.
More than 46 million people in the UK have now had their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
After declining substantially at the start of the year, the average number of daily confirmed cases has been rising sharply in recent weeks.
A further 42,302 confirmed cases in the UK were announced on Wednesday, the highest number reported since 15 January.
The rise in cases is being driven by the Delta variant, which spreads faster than the previously most common Kent variant (now named Alpha).
However, England is set to lift all legal restrictions on everyday life from 19 July, with an end to social distancing rules and no limits on numbers meeting indoors or outdoors.
Speaking on Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged caution, saying the pandemic is not over and that deaths and hospitalisations from coronavirus would continue.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said although cases will continue to rise, he did not "believe that infection rates will put unsustainable pressure on the NHS".