The number of fresh Covid cases in the UK has dropped slightly with 29,622 new infections reported in the last 24 hours.
A further 68 dates have been recorded during the same time period.
On Thursday the UK recorded 31,117 cases and 85 deaths and last Friday there were 35,842 fresh infections and 64 fatalities
In total the nation has recorded 5,830,774 Covid cases and 129,583 deaths since the pandemic began making the UK the seventh worst affected country in the world.
The news comes as fresh figures show around 1 in 65 people tested positive for the virus in England last week.
The latest ONS weekly infection survey estimated that 856,200 people in the community population had Covid-19 in the week up to July 24.
This is the highest level since the week to January 30.
It marks an increase on the week before when 741,700 people - or 1 in 75 - had the virus.
But the report offered some hope, as it said "there are possible signs that the rate of increase may have slowed" in England.
Boris Johnson insisted on pressing ahead with axing remaining lockdown restrictions in England on July 19, despite concern about continued prevalence of the virus.
The PM has repeatedly urged the public to be cautious on resuming their freedoms and warned that the pandemic is not over.
Separate daily figures have revealed a seven-day fall in cases, although infections have started to rise again in recent days.
The ONS estimates infection numbers in the community beyond those who have been tested - aiming to give a fuller picture of the state of the virus.
Covid cases also rose in Wales and Northern Ireland over the same period, but fell in Scotland, according to the figures.
However experts have hailed the success of Britain’s vaccine programme amid claims the nation could be nearing a form of herd immunity.
Public Health England modelling shows 60,000 Covid-19 deaths and 22 million infections have now been prevented by jab protection.
And the total number of cases staved off by vaccination has doubled in just the last fortnight.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jonathan Van Tam said: “That’s truly massive.
“The benefit of vaccines is in that kind of secret work you never see because if people don’t go into hospital and they don’t die, you never see that.”
Hopes have been raised we may be through the worst of the pandemic after Office for National Statistics figures showed 73% of people now carry protective antibodies.
Experts caution antibodies do not prove immunity and insist it is vital we jab the last several million or many will end up in hospital.
Dr David Matthews, of Bristol University, told the Mirror: “I suspect we are close to a herd immunity of sorts. I don’t think it’s likely we will see restrictions again.
“Herd immunity will mean that Covid hospitalisations will slow down to manageable trickle so the NHS can start trying to deal with its huge backlog.
“People should not think if we get to a level of herd immunity they don’t have to bother getting vaccinated.
“The vaccine is doing its job and stopping people ending up in hospital it’s not stopping the virus spreading around.
“Whatever happens this virus is going to be with us forever and you will meet it one day and it could be a very serious infection.
“The only question is whether you want your immune system to be trained and prepared for it.
“The NHS has better things to do than deal with people who turned down a jab when they were offered it.”
University College London analysis estimates the herd immunity threshold at 93% with the new Delta variant, and puts population immunity at 87%.
