A further 393 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of deaths reported in the UK to 1,808.

In England, NHS Trusts recorded the deaths of 367 patients, including a 19-year-old with no underlying health conditions.

Another seven new deaths were reported in Wales, with a further 13 in Scotland and six in Northern Ireland.

Earlier Boris Johnson told the cabinet ”the situation is going to get worse before it gets better – but it will get better” during a meeting by videolink.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The PM said the rising death toll in recent days showed the vital importance of the public continuing to stick to the social distancing guidance which has been put in place by the government, based on scientific and medical advice.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said the total of deaths reported as of 5pm on Monday was 1,789, which does not take into account more recent deaths reported by the four regions.

A total of 25,150 people have tested positive for Covid-19 across the UK, with the total number of tests rising by more than 8,000 in a day to 143,186.

Concerns have been raised over the true number of deaths as the figures do not include deaths outside of hospitals, such as at patients’ homes or in care homes.

The Office for National Statistics revealed that 210 registered deaths that occurred in England and Wales up to and including 20 March had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate.

This compares with 170 coronavirus-related deaths reported by NHS England and Public Health Wales by that time.

The difference is due to methods of counting and reporting, the ONS explained.

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