The UK now has over 250,000 Delta variant cases with infections rising by 17 per cent in just one week.
A total of 253,049 confirmed and probable cases of the Covid-19 mutation first identified in India have now been found in the UK, according to the latest figures from Public Health England.
That's up by 36,800 from 216,249 transmissions in the previous week.
Of the 253,049 infections, 209,926 have been in England, 32,708 in Scotland, 5,601 in Wales and 4,814 in Northern Ireland.
The Delta variant continues to account for approximately 99 per cent of confirmed cases of coronavirus across the UK.
Have you been infected with the Delta variant? Contact us with your experience at webnews@mirror.co.uk
Responding to the latest figures, Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: "Case rates are still high and rising, but it is encouraging that the increase in cases still does not appear to be associated with a similar increase in hospitalisations and deaths.
"This is testament to the continued success of the vaccination programme in reducing the incidence of severe disease.
"The best way to keep yourself and those around you safe is to get both doses of the vaccine as soon as you are eligible.
"However, while vaccines offer excellent protection, they do not completely eliminate risk.
"As we approach the end of restrictions, it is as important as ever that we continue to exercise caution."
"Take your free twice-weekly rapid tests and if you have symptoms, you should book a PCR test immediately and stay at home until you receive your result," she added.
The number of overall Covid-19 cases in the UK had risen by 48,553 in the latest 24 hours period - the highest daily rise in six months.
A further 63 people died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test yesterday, according to the latest figures released by the government.
The UK total coronavirus death toll currently stands at 128,593, with Thursday seeing the highest day-on-day rise since March 26.
Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have now been 154,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
As of July 14, 35,341,428 people in the UK had had two vaccines.
The latest data also showed a daily total of 582 Covid patients were admitted to hospital on July 11 - with weekly admissions up by 46.8 percent on the previous seven days.
It comes as doctors have slammed Boris Johnson's decision to push forward with the latest relaxation of coronavirus restrictions and have branded it "irresponsible."
The British Medical Association (BMA) warned of "potentially devastating consequences" after the Prime Minister confirmed on Monday that most mandatory restrictions will end on July 19, despite coronavirus infections continuing to rise.
At a Downing Street news conference on Monday, Mr Johnson acknowledged the pandemic "is not over" and appealed to people to proceed with caution.
At the same time, he said postponing the easing of restrictions into the autumn would risk reopening at a time when schools are back from their summer holidays and people are spending more time indoors as the weather turns cold.
However Dr Chaand Nagpaul, the BMA council chair, said that by going ahead on July 19, the Government was reneging on its promise to be led by the data and the impact on the NHS.
