The Ministry of Health confirmed that 10,321 new cases of the virus had been detected by 9 a.m. on Saturday. 14 other people also died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19.
The UK reported 10,476 new coronavirus infections on Friday and 11,007 on Thursday.
Meanwhile, more than 400,000 vaccines have been administered in the past 24 hours, with all adults over 18 now eligible.
Another 218,636 people received a first dose and 188,858 received their second dose.
The spike in infections comes as Public Health England (PHE) warned there had been a 79% weekly increase in cases of the Delta variant, first identified in India.
Professor Adam Finn, who advises the government on the Joint Committee on Immunization and Immunization (JCVI), said a “third wave” of coronavirus infections “is definitely underway.”
The Bristol University scholar pointed out that it was a race between vaccine deployment and the Delta variant.
He said: “It’s going up, maybe we can be a little bit optimistic, it’s not going up any faster, but it’s still going up, so this third wave is definitely underway.
“We can conclude that the race is well underway between the vaccination program, especially the second dose in the elderly, and the third wave of the Delta variant.”
The latest PHE data shows that 75,953 confirmed and probable cases of the Delta variant have now been identified in the UK – up 33,630, or 79%, from the previous week.
A total of 70,856 cases have been recorded in England, 4,659 in Scotland, 254 in Northern Ireland and 184 in Wales.
Dr Jenny Harries, Managing Director of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Cases are increasing rapidly across the country and the Delta variant is now dominant.
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Improved testing will begin at Clapham, Brixton, Stockwell, West Norwood and Vauxhall.
Meanwhile, the government is considering removing the need for people who received both doses of the vaccine to self-isolate for 10 days if they come in contact with someone infected with the virus.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock is reportedly keen to replace quarantine with daily testing.
But the policy will not be approved until Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, is satisfied with the results of a study of 40,000 people.
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This notice was published: 2021-06-19 15:24:00
