Another 96 people have died with coronavirus in the latest daily death toll - the highest daily figure since March.
The grim tally comes a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted all rules and restrictions.
And deaths have jumped 60% in a week, with a further 46,558 cases in the past 24 hours.
Read more: 'I don't want anyone to suffer like we are': Rebecca Mack's mum reveals fears after lockdown lifted
Locally, the North East remains England's top Covid hotspot although infections are falling in some parts.
Opinion has been split as to whether the Prime Minister has 'unlocked' England too early.
Masks and social distancing rules were axed on Monday, a day dubbed 'Freedom Day'.
Nightclubs reopened at a second past midnight, while on Monday night there were huge queues outside Newcastle's Digital for a second night running .
However there are concerns restrictions may have to be reimposed later in the year.
And experts have warned that there could be up to 200,000 cases a day when infections peak.
And in 11 parts of the country, the public has been told to take tougher steps - such as not meeting indoors - as cases there continue to rocket.
These areas are:
- Bedford Borough Council
- Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
- Blackpool Council
- Cheshire East Council
- Brighton and Hove City Council
- Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan)
- Lancashire County Council (Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire, Wyre)
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral)
- Oxford City Council
- Warrington Borough Council
The Mirror reports that these areas have extra testing capacity, along with support to encourage as many people as possible to get jabbed.
