The UK has recorded another 45,533 coronavirus cases and 1,243 deaths. This is the second-highest number of fatalities in a single day.

Speaking at the Downing Street briefing, Home Secretary Priti Patel said that 35,075 people were currently in hospital with COVID-19 - an increase of 22 percent in comparison to a week ago.

On Monday, 46,169 more cases and 529 more deaths had been recorded. It comes as Chris Hopson, the chief of NHS Providers, which represents all NHS trusts, warned peak demand on hospitals might not hit until next month.

He said it was now "pretty clear" the coronavirus infection rate "is not going to go down as quickly as it did" during the first lockdown last spring.

(With input from agencies)