UK Covid cases are the highest in six weeks as a further 42,076 people test positive.
And Britain's daily death toll has also soared, with 121 fatalities recorded today – up 10 per cent in a week.
Cases haven't hit the 40k mark since July 21, when 44,104 positive tests were recorded and 73 people died.
The number is also up on yesterday, which saw 38,154 cases.
But, the coronavirus R rate is falling country-wide, with the figure now standing between 0.9 and 1.1.
This means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between nine and 11 other people.
Last week the R rate sat between 1 and 1.1 – meaning that this week less people are becoming infected with the virus.
Separate data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that infections are highest in younger age groups.
Children went back to school this week and the data will not account for any infections seen in educational settings in England but will take into account infections over the school holidays.
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The data shows that in England, year 12s to 24 year-olds have seen a slight decrease in infections in the week ending August 27.
At the peak of the second wave in January, around one in 50 people in England had Covid-19.
Across England infections have increased in the over 70s and in those aged 25 to 34.
REGIONAL DIVIDE
On a regional basis the ONS says that infections have increased in the south-west and the West Midlands, while London and the East Midlands saw a decrease.
Data from the Health Security Agency correlates with this as the south west currently has the highest R rate in the country between 1.0 to 1.4.
It also has the highest growth rate range and sits between 0 and 6 per cent.
The growth rate for the whole of England is between -2 per cent and +2 per cent and this means that the number of new infections could be broadly flat, shrinking by up to 2 per cent every day or growing by up to 2 per cent every day.
The south east has the second highest R rate at 1.0 to 1.2 and is followed by the East of England where the R rate is 0.9 to 1.2.
The North West, the North East and Yorkshire and the Midlands all sit between 0.9 and 1.1.
London has the lowest R rate in the country between 0.8 and 1.1.
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