The UK has recorded 36,480 new COVID-19 cases and 137 more coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24-hour period, according to government data.
Now is the 11th day in a row that new infections have exceeded 30,000.
Since the start of the pandemic early last year, 136,662 people have died in the UK within 28 days of a positive COVID test.
Separate figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that 161,000 deaths have been recorded in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
There are currently 6,853 hospitalized patients with COVID.
Another 31,539 people received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday, bringing the total to 48,829,118 (89.8% of those over the age of 16).
And 34,093 received their second puncture, which means that 44,867,373 are fully vaccinated (82.5%).
It comes as the latest Test and Trace figures revealed that the number of people who tested positive for the virus increased 18% in one week.
Some 191,771 people tested positive at least once in the week through Sept. 22, up from 162,400 the week before, according to the figures.
It was the largest weekly percentage increase since mid-July, which was the last time England saw a major increase in COVID cases.
However, the latest figures are well below the level reached during the second wave of the virus.
The Test and Trace figures peaked at 390,280 cases in the week through January 6.
The latest rally saw the number hit 309,422 in the week through July 21.
Meanwhile, a study has suggested that thousands of prolonged COVID in children could be prevented by giving two doses of vaccine.
Children between the ages of 12 and 15 are now offered a single dose of Pfizer’s jab to reduce the chance of contracting and transmitting the disease.
But the study looked at 12 to 17-year-olds who received both injections and concluded that the benefits outweigh the risks “unless case rates are consistently low.”