The figures compared to 88,447 cases and 56 deaths reported on Monday.

The number of deaths is the highest recorded since Feb. 24 last year. The figure are often higher on a Tuesday when most deaths at the weekend are included in the tally. Last Tuesday, 438 deaths were reported.

Overall case numbers, deaths and hospital admissions have been slowly falling from a peak after Christmas.

(Reporting by Michael Holden, Editing by Paul Sandle)