The UK has reported 28,773 new cases of coronavirus - the highest figure on a Tuesday since late January - and a further 37 deaths in the latest 24-hour period.
The news comes as Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned that we could soon see 100,000 cases per day as restrictions are eased, with the July 19 lifting of Covid rules being branded an "experiment".
Prof Neil Ferguson, whose modelling led the government to bring in the lockdown in 2020, suggested that around one in 1,000 people who contract the virus will die going forward.
Mr Javid rejected the suggestion that the government has an "acceptable" figure for daily deaths, telling Sky News: “It’s not about some number of deaths being acceptable, of course not."
Data shows that vaccines and treatments have vastly driven down the number of coronavirus deaths, even though the number of cases is rising.
Do you think all restrictions should be lifted on July 19? Tell us in the comments below
Professor Neil Ferguson, of Imperial College London, said on Tuesday that if there are 50,000 cases per day, it would translate to around 50 deaths - around one in 1,000.
Prof Ferguson said: “At the peak of the second wave 50,000 cases would translate into something like 500 deaths, but that’s going to be much lower this time, more like 50 or so.
“The challenge is, there’s still the potential of getting very large numbers of cases and so if we get very high numbers of cases a day, 150,000 or 200,000 it could still cause some pressure to the health system.
“This is a slight gamble, it’s a slight experiment at the moment, and I think it’s justifiable and I’m reasonable optimistic, but policy will have to remain flexible."
In the past seven days there have been 127 coronavirus deaths recorded, figures from the Department of Health show.
Hospitalisations are creeping up in some parts of the country, but medics say they are better able to treat Covid patients than they were in the early days of the pandemic, and vaccinated people are experiencing less severe illness.
Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance said cases are doubling every nine days, while hospitalisations are "rising quite steeply in some places and we would expect that to continue".
"It's a weakened link, not a completely broken link," he said.
On Monday Boris Johnson announced 'Freedom Day' will take place on July 19 with face masks, social distancing, those QR codes and ordering at the bar in pubs will no longer be a legal requirement in England.
Full-size stadium gigs and theatre shows will also be able to restart with no social distancing restrictions.
Masks won’t even be legally required in hospitals and care homes - and won’t be specifically advised on public transport.
Despite relaxing the rules Mr Johnson admitted the pandemic is "far from over", adding "It certainly won't be over by the 19th".
