Coronavirus cases have increased by 10.5 per cent in Britain in the last week as the Indian variant spreads, worrying data shows.
The nation recorded 17,410 new infections from May 16 to May 22 - a rise from the previous seven days.
A total of 2,694 cases and six deaths were reported on Saturday, according to government data.
And the latest figures from Public Health England show that 3,424 B1617.2 infections, widely known as the Indian variant, have been recorded as fears continue over the strain.
While most were concentrated in the North West and London, the body said it was seeing "clusters of cases" across the country.
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Surge testing is being carried out to combat the spread, which has put the end of lockdown on June 21 in jeopardy.
The updated numbers comes as it was revealed a major milestone has been hit in the vaccine rollout.
It was announced on Saturday that the number of doses of coronavirus jabs administered in England has passed 50 million.
Friday's totals showed more than 37 million people in the UK had received at least one dose and more than 21 million had received two.
Health Secretary Mr Hancock tweeted: "Today over 50 million Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered in England. One of the biggest and most important national efforts in our history.
"Thank you to the whole team who have made this happen."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised every adult in the UK would get a jab by the end of July.
Health officials are in a race to speed ahead with the rollout as efforts to keep the worrying new Indian variant at bay ramp up.
Scientists have said the variant does not appear to cause more severe infection than other mutant strains, and it is also not thought to be more infectious at this stage.
Data from a study of vaccinated Indian healthcare workers earlier this week showed also that the AstraZeneca jab is 97 per cent effective against the variant.
But experts have warned it is overtaking the Kent variant to become the dominant strain in Britain.
Mr Hancock has also announced a new trial of 'booster' shots it is hoped could boost protection from another wave of the virus in the autumn.
The PM has been urging "caution" as the government hinted the emergence of the new variant could delay plans to lift lockdown restrictions June 21.
Mr Johnson came under fire this week over border controls as critics claimed his government was too slow to act on adding India to the UK's travel 'red list.'
