A WORRYING new strain of Covid is spreading “rapidly” across the globe, experts have warned. XEC was first detected in Germany in June and has since been found in at least 29 countries

While the UKHSA isn’t specifically alarmed by XEC, they expect COVID to circulate more in winter, along with flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which they call the “three main winter threats.” Dr Bernal advises eligible individuals to get vaccinated against these illnesses.

XEC is on track to become the new dominant COVID-19 strain this winter. Yale and New Haven experts weigh in on why you should still get the new vaccine even though it may be less effective at neutralization because it is a recombinant variant.

The XEC variant, a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants, was detected and recorded in Germany in June and has been found in at least 29 countries—including in at least 13 European nations and the 24 states within United States.

Covid hospitalisations have surged across Britain at an “alarming” rate as a new variant of the virus emerged, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned. UKHSA figures showed the admission rate for patients testing positive for Covid XEC stood at 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6 – up from 3.7 a week earlier.

Some reports and social media users have raised concerns over the new COVID variant - but what are official health authorities saying?