The UK has recorded a further 46,807 Covid cases - the highest figure for nearly a month.
The last time infections topped that mark was on Friday, October 22, when 49,298 were reported.
The pandemic also claimed the lives of 199 people in the last 24 hours, according to official government data.
A total of 38,263 cases and 201 fatalities were logged yesterday - Wednesday, November 17 - in comparison.
The latest figures come as an expert said he was "cautiously optimistic" the nation would not see a Christmas spike in infections.
Lead ZOE Covid Study app scientist, Tim Spector, says it's clear kids and their school holidays have become "a key role in the waves of infection".
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The King's College epidemiology professor repeated comments made last week that Brits should be ready for Covid to remain in our lives for the next five Christmases, and not just this one.
Prof Spector said: "According to the ZOE data, the steep drop in cases over the last two weeks has now slowed but remains at very high rates, affecting one in 67 people.
"In terms of what it means for Christmas, I'm cautiously optimistic for the remainder of the year.
"It's becoming clear that children and the school holidays play a key role in the waves of infection. I think it's safe to say that we can expect to see another rise in the new year after the holidays.
"There's a long road ahead and I think we'll be dealing with Covid for the next five years, so it's important we have a strategy that looks much further ahead and not just to save Christmas."
He stressed the importance of "healthy behaviours such as working more from home when possible and self-isolation with all symptoms", as well as wearing face coverings in high-risk areas.
But Prof Spector said the most important thing is to get fully vaccinated, a term he said must be redefined to having three doses "to protect us all from Delta and the inevitable new variants of Covid yet to come".
The latest ZOE study showed that, in those who have had at least two doses of a vaccine, cases have levelled off.
Prof Spector's comments came as new data suggests recent coronavirus rates in England are similar to infections seen just after the peak of the second wave in January this year.
From mid-October to early November, the prevalence was 1.57 per cent - the same as January - compared with 0.83 per cent in September.
According to the data, prevalence increased between rounds 14 and 15 of Imperial College London's React-1 study across most age groups and regions.
During round 15, which ran from October 19 to November 5, there was a fall in prevalence from a peak at around October 20 to 21.
School-aged children had the highest rates of infection with a prevalence of 4.95 per cent in those aged five to 12 and 5.21 per cent in those aged 13 to 17.
