Covid warning as hospitalisations rise and XEC strain surge - full list of symptoms
Experts are monitoring the new variant closely and some believe it could become the dominant strain, leading to a surge in new hospitalisations.
Covid-19 cases are climbing across the UK driven by new variants such as XEC, health officials have confirmed.
According to the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Covid incidence is increasing across “most indicators” - with a particular rise in hospitalisations.
Hospital admission rates have risen to 4.55 per 100,000 people, up from 3.72 per 100,000 the previous week. The data also flagged 59 “acute respiratory incidents” related to the virus.
The surge is most pronounced among the elderly and especially those aged 85 and over, where positivity rates have peaked.
The NHS has urged people to isolate if possible, amid concerns that the XEC strain could become the dominant variant in the UK, the Mirror reported.
It means those experiencing a high temperature or feeling unwell enough to miss work or school are encouraged to avoid contact with others until they feel better.
For children with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or cough, they can attend school or childcare if they feel well enough.
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Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, the lead consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "Covid-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks. As winter approaches, we expect flu and RSV to increasingly circulate too, so if you're eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats – Covid-19, flu and RSV – now is the time to take them up and get winter strong.
"We understand people may be concerned about new variants. Our surveillance shows that where Covid cases are sequenced, around 1 in 10 are the XEC lineage. Current information doesn't suggest we should be more concerned about this variant but we are monitoring this closely. The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you're eligible."
Other experts have suggested this new Covid variant could soon take off and become the dominant type. Professor Francois Balloux, director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, told the BBC that although XEC has a "slight transmission advantage" over other recent Covid variants, vaccines should still offer good protection.
Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, in California, said XEC was "just getting started".
“[It’s] going to take many weeks, a couple months, before it really takes hold and starts to cause a wave," he told the LA Times.
"XEC is definitely taking charge. That does appear to be the next variant. But it's months off from getting into high levels."
Data from the UKHSA reveals a 2.8 percent rise in overall Covid cases, following a 21.6 percent spike in England the week prior.
In the week leading up to October 2, there were 2,912 new infections across England and Wales, an increase of 78 from the previous week. Additionally, there were 128 Covid-related deaths in the week before September 27.
Covid symptoms as XEC variant rises:
- A high temperature or shivering (a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back)
- A new, continuous cough (this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours)
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- An aching body
- A headache
- A sore throat
- A blocked or runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick.
