Prime Minister Boris Johnson led the sixth national applause for frontline workers as his fiancee Carrie Symonds tweeted she had "another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too".
Ms Symonds said she was joining in the clap for carers again, a day after giving birth to a baby boy.
It comes as the Government’s ambitious daily coronavirus testing target could yet be met after Boris Johnson announced a sudden increase in the number carried out.
The Prime Minister said 81,611 tests were performed on 55,575 people on Wednesday, up from 52,429 tests the day before.
Ms Symonds also wished Captain Tom Moore a happy birthday.
She tweeted: “Clapping again for our tremendous carers tonight and wishing hero @captaintommoore a very happy birthday.
“I also have another wonderful reason to thank the NHS this week too.
“Thank you so, so much!”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “Tonight I proudly clapped outside 10 Downing Street for our fantastic NHS and carers. Thank you all for everything you are doing.”
Meanwhile a rainbow, which has become the unofficial symbol for the NHS during the pandemic, appeared and was seen by people standing on their doorsteps across the country.
Keith Wall, who took a video of the clapping along with a rainbow in Bourne, Lincolnshire, said: “A great rainbow appeared at 8pm tonight just in time for Clap the Carers.”
Actress Emily Atack tweeted a photo of a rainbow, saying: “Double rainbow this evening just before we clap for our heroes. Unbelievable.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said there was “so much to clap for” at the weekly clap for carers event on Thursday evening.
Tweeting a photo of himself clapping, he wrote: “We’re past the peak, it’s Captain Tom’s Birthday and we have the best carers of anywhere in the world.
“So much to clap for tonight.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “Once again we’ve just seen an incredible display of appreciation to our NHS staff, carers and key workers. They’re risking their lives for all of us. #ClapForOurCarers”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a video of her applauding, and added: “Thank you so much to everyone working hard every day to care for us and keep our essential services going #ClapForOurCarers #ClapForTheNHS”
The latest figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show that 26,771 people have now died in all settings with coronavirus, an increase of 674 on the number announced on Wednesday.
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