The number of daily UK cases of coronavirus has risen to 1,522 in 24 hours - up from 1,048 on Wednesday - the highest tally since mid-June.
This is still much lower than the 5,000 new cases a day in April, at the peak of the epidemic.
Cases have been rising across Europe and began edging up again in the UK in July, after falling in June.
A number of areas have seen a spike in infections, with Birmingham and Northampton the latest places affected.