Daily coronavirus cases in the UK have risen by 15% week-on-week after days of some of the highest infection numbers recorded in months.
Another 37,578 Covid infections were recorded on Saturday, along with 120 more deaths, the latest official figures show.
Today's numbers dropped below 40,000 after two days recording some of the highest infection numbers since July.
But the cases and deaths figures are higher than last Saturday's, when 32,406 new infections were recorded along with 111 new fatalities.
A total 42,076 cases were recorded Friday, along with 121 more deaths.
Thursday marked the first time over six months the country had seen more than 150 deaths daily for two days in a row.
And Wednesday marked the first time since March 9 that the UK recorded more than 200 Covid deaths in a single day.
On July 21 - two days after Freedom Day - the UK recorded 44,104 cases but since then the daily infections number had been gradually dropping.
Vaccination numbers are climbing every day, but the NHS is bracing for a potential impact as schools return in England and winter pressures loom.
Schoolchildren could be next in the queue for the jab as experts deliberate on whether to approve the vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) had been considering whether the youngsters will be offered vaccines.
Now that decision has been passed to Chief Medical Officers and Health Secretary, who could make a final ruling as soon as next week.
The rollout for children is being considered in order to protect their vulnerable household members, boost greater population immunity and reduce pressure on the NHS.
It is also hoped jabbing youngsters could reduce the risk of more mutant variants emerging among the unvaccinated.
The latest available nationwide vaccine numbers showed more than 48million people had received at least one jab by Friday.
A total 43million have received two doses.
According to the latest nationwide figures, a total 7,541 Covid patients are currently in hospitals, and 1,038 are on ventilators.
The number admitted to hospitals rose by 985 on Saturday.
The figures are significantly below the winter peak, when severe illness and death soared before the protection offered by vaccines became available.
More than 4,000 people a day were being admitted to hospital in January.
While the vaccine does not completely the stop the spread of the virus, including the highly infectious Delta variant currently dominating in the UK, the jab reduces risk of severe illness and death.
During the January peak, the UK was suffering a daily death average of nearly 1,300 fatalities a day.
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