UK looks to Belgium for Covid inspiration despite infections rise

Matt Hancock hails Belgian model amid rollout of new curbs in England - but data shows jump in new cases

• Coronavirus - latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Belgium has been cited by the UK health secretary, Matt Hancock, as a model for getting coronavirus under control - just as its public health body recorded a 15% rise in the number of daily infections compared with the previous week.

Despite a dip in the number of new infections in August, after a tightening of rules by the Belgian prime minister, Sophie Wilmes, the most recent data suggests the country's success may be short-lived as people return to work and school.