Government figures Thursday show that 45,066 people have tested positive for the coronavirus, the highest number since July 20.
Most of the recent increasing cases in the UK have been among children after they return to school.
Dissemination of vaccines to older children is slower than expected.
There has also been a rise in hospital admissions for patients COVID-19, although the percentage is lower than the previous waves of the pandemic after the introduction of vaccines.
The number of people dying from COVID-19 has remained stable in recent weeks, despite growing concerns that an increase in cases will lead to more deaths.
Another 157 deaths related to the virus were recorded Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in Britain from the virus to 138,237, the second highest number of its kind in Europe after Russia.
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