The UK coronavirus death toll has reached 1,801 after 393 people were confirmed dead.

The updated toll comes after 367 people in England died, and Scotland recorded 13 more deaths. A further seven people were confirmed dead in Wales, while Northern Ireland recorded six more deaths today.

Today’s jump in deaths is the biggest daily increase since the outbreak began, following a rise of 180 deaths yesterday and 209 on Sunday.

But it comes as new data from the Office for National Statistics suggested the true death count could be 20% higher than official figures have shown.

According to new figures, a total of 210 deaths in Englandand Wales that occurred up to and including March 20 had Covid-19 mentioned onthe death certificate.

This compares with 170 coronavirus-related deaths reported by NHS England and Public Health Wales up to and including March 20.

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Official statistics only take into account those who havedied from Covid-19 while in hospital but the ONS figures – which will now bereleased weekly – include all deaths where coronavirus is listed anywhere onthe death certificate, including in combination with other health conditions.

This means they take into account those who may have died at home or in the wider community, such as at care homes.

The ONS figures include deaths in England and Wales and thecurrent data includes deaths up to and including March 20, as it takes time fordeaths to be officially registered.

They differ from those reported by the government and NHS inEngland and Wales because of different reporting methods and timings.

The ONS figures are based on deaths registered in a givenweek, whereas the official toll is based on deaths occurring among hospitalpatients in a given week.

Meanwhile, a minister has suggested people should only leavetheir home to go shopping once a week during lockdown measures.

Transport Secretary Grant Schapps said Britons should only buy the essentials in their ‘once-weekly’ trip to the supermarket.

The official coronavirus guidance issued by the Governmentdoes not set out how often people are allowed to leave their home to goshopping, but recommends that it is ‘as infrequent as possible’.

Mr Shapps acknowledged there had been ‘teething problems’but said people should follow the rules.

‘People know the rules that have been set, try and shop justonce a week,’ he told the BBC.

‘Just do the essentials, not everything else.’

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