Coronavirus cases in the UK have today risen by 32,181 with a further 50 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours following the second August Bank Holiday.
Last Tuesday, there were 30,838 more infections - meaning a rise of over 4 per cent in a week - and 174 fatalities within 28 days of a positive test.
That was the most virus-related deaths recorded in a single day for five months when 175 people passed away on March 12.
Today's death toll is the lowest on a Tuesday since July 13 when they were also 50 fatalities.
The UK has seen at least 20,000 daily cases since the end of June.
And in that period, infections peaked at 54,674 on July 17 - two days before England lifted restrictions.
Yesterday the number of daily Covid infections did, however, drop below 30,000 for the first time in nearly two weeks.
But it comes as the number of patients in hospital with the virus is at its highest level since March following a 350 per cent rise in two months.
Nearly 7,000 people were being treated for the virus last week, latest Department of Health data, released on Monday, shows.
NHS trusts in Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester had England's highest numbers of coronavirus patients, while all of the country's 10 worst hit hospitals have seen a dramatic rise in cases since Freedom Day.
The vaccination programme, however, continues to rumble on.
The UK has administered 23,612 first doses of the vaccination, and 78,871 second jabs, as of Sunday (August 29).
The number of fully vaccinated Brits now sits at 42,718,652, as per the most up to date figures.
Although infections did not rise as expected when lockdown restrictions were lifted last month, scientists have continued to warn that the UK should brace for a difficult autumn.
Ministers intend to roll out a booster programme from September, officials have said this afternoon.
Experts from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are preparing to make a final decision about the booster campaign, with the NHS in England poised to start the campaign from September 6.
It comes amid fears the re-opening of schools could cause Covid rates to soar - with "high prevalence" expected by the end of next month after cases rocketed in Scotland.
Last night The Mirror reported that ministers have been warned schools could become a "cauldron of Covid" when children return to classrooms this week.
Scotland, where schools have already reopened, has seen a jump in infections.
On Sunday 7,113 cases were confirmed - the highest figure of the pandemic so far, with the country's deputy first minister saying it was driven by schools returning.
John Swinney told the BBC : "Cases have risen very significantly within Scotland and we are looking closely at why that is the case.
"Undoubtedly the gathering of people together in schools will have fuelled that to some extent, and you can see that in the proportion of younger people who are testing positive."
