New COVID strain XEC is a recombinant strain of two variants in the Omicron family: KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. The hybrid strain was first reported in Berlin in late June but has spread across Europe, North America and Asia, with Germany, France, the Netherlands and Denmark leading the charge.

A new and contagious COVID variant known as XEC, which has been spreading rapidly in other countries over the last few months, has reportedly made its way to Chicago.

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.

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.

A new strain of Covid emerging in the UK is spreading as cases increase at a high rate, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said. Called XEC, the strain is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants.

Here is what is known about the new Covid XEC variant from cases in the UK, symptoms, what the World Health Organisation has said and more.