The UK has recorded more than 7,000 new cases of coronavirus and 71 deaths, according to the latest government statistics.

As of 9am on Tuesday, there have been a further 7,143 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, taking the overall number of cases confirmed to 439,013.

The figure is the highest since the outbreak of the pandemic, while 71 deaths were also recorded – the highest figure since July 1.

Of those, 68 were in England and three were in Wales. It takes the total number of deaths to 42,072.

It comes as tougher restrictions banning people from mixing with other households are introduced in large parts of north-east England.

From midnight on Wednesday, it will be illegal for two households to mix in any setting in Northumberland, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and County Durham.

On an international level, more than one million people have now died of Covid-19 worldwide, just six and a half months after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic.

 According to data from the Johns Hopkins University, the UK has the fifth highest death count, after the US, Brazil, India and Mexico.