Britain’s covid infection rate one of the worst in the world

The UK currently ranks 14th out of 200 nations for covid infection rates, as the UK recorded 143 deaths and 39,851 new infections on Wednesday.

191,771 people tested positive for covid in England in the week to 22 September, an 18% rise from the previous week.

Globally, the figure was only exceeded by the US which recorded 84,348 new cases – and was far greater than the numbers posted by Brazil (14,423 new cases), Germany (11,780), France (5,859) and Italy (2,962).

Previously Sajid Javid had said that vaccine passports would only be needed if cases surged. The health secretary is yet to say whether the government will reverse their previous u-turn to not require them.