The UK has logged a further 92,368 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours and the death toll has risen by 51.
The latest figures, released by the Department for Health on Monday afternoon, show a four per cent increase on confirmed infections from this time last week.
Last Monday (January 24) a total of 88,447 new coronavirus cases were tallied.
Meanwhile, deaths slightly decreased from 56.
On Sunday, 62,399 new cases and 85 deaths were tallied.
Case numbers have substantially dropped since peaking around New Year’s - with 245,182 cases recorded on January 4.
From Monday the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is now including data on possible reinfections in its Covid-19 dashboard.
The UKHSA says a Covid sufferer who has tested positive at least 90 days after a previous infection will now be considered a reinfection, whereas people were previously only counted in the figures the first time they tested positive for the virus.
As a result updated figures for England show 14,845,382 episodes of infection since the start of the pandemic, with 588,114 (4.0%) reinfections added to the total case number for the country.
The new data metric shows reinfection rates averaged around 1.4 percent of cases until November 16, 2021, when a spike in infections took place following the emergence of the Omicron variant.
Professor Steven Riley, UKHSA’s Director General of Data and Analytics, said: "Reinfection remained at very low levels until the start of the Omicron wave. It is right that our daily reporting processes reflect how the virus has changed.
"We continue to see downward trends in case numbers and incidence of illness as we work to reduce the impact of the pandemic on our day-to-day lives. With vaccination still a great defence against infection and illness, please get jabbed as soon as possible."
Monday's figures came as the highly-anticipated report into the Downing Street lockdown parties was released.
The Sue Gray report found "failures of leadership and judgement" over Downing Street lockdown parties that "should not have been allowed".
The nine-page "update" said "at least some" of the gatherings were "a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government, but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time."
It also revealed Scotland Yard is probing 12 out of the 16 parties she investigated - including Boris Johnson's birthday party.
Monday also marked an end to Covid restrictions.
The guidelines introduced last year have been changing gradually and working from home orders have also come to an end.
From Monday, curbs were relaxed in care homes as "living with" the virus becomes the latest instruction by the UK Government.
Cases are plummeting and the 'R' rate has also dropped to its lowest since March 2021.
Limits had been introduced on care home visits under Plan B curbs allowing millions to spend time with their nearest and dearest.
But the three-visitor restriction was dropped from today in all care homes.
Workers will have to take lateral flow tests before every shift from February 16.
Weekly PCR tests are currently required along with lateral flow tests three times a week.
Almost nine in ten care home residents had been triple jabbed, said Health secretary Sajid Javid, allowing visiting rules to be relaxed.
He said: "I know how vital companionship is to those living in care homes and the positive difference visits make, which is why we continued to allow three named visitors and an essential caregiver under Plan B measures.
"Thanks to the progress we have made, I am delighted that care home restrictions can now be eased further allowing residents to see more of their loved ones", he said.
Also from Monday, vulnerable five to 11-year-olds have their first jab to protect against Covid.
