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New Covid Strain Rises in England
2 Oct
Summary
- England sees rise in 'American Covid' strain cases
- Hospital admissions for Covid surge by almost 50 percent
- Autumn vaccine offers protection against the XFG variant
Cases of the "American Covid" strain, identified as XFG or Stratus, have seen an increase in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that the rate of positive Covid-19 tests in hospitals climbed to 7.0 percent in September. Concurrently, hospital admission rates for the virus experienced a surge of nearly 50 percent, with the London region observing the most significant rise at 79 percent.
The UKHSA stated that the XFG strain has been circulating for approximately a year. This winter's vaccine has been specifically formulated to offer protection against this variant and its sub-strains. Health experts are encouraging eligible individuals, including those aged 75 and over, care home residents, and immunosuppressed people, to get their autumn Covid-19 jab.
Despite the increase, experts emphasize that overall Covid-19 activity remains at low levels. They note that there is currently no evidence suggesting that the circulating variants are causing more severe illness. However, they caution that Covid-19 can still lead to serious health issues for individuals most at risk, particularly those over 85, who have the highest hospitalization rates.
