Covid cases rise 18% in a week

A total of 191,771 people tested positive to covid in the week beginning September 22, up from 162,400 the previous week, according to the latest test and trace figures.

It represents the biggest week-on-week percentage increase since mid-July, during the last major spike of the pandemic.

Deaths also increased, but by a much smaller rate than in previous spikes, suggesting that vaccine immunity has not yet warned off, despite some groups being advised to receive booster jabs.

The WHO continues to advise countries that jabs should be offered to poorer countries before being given as boosters.