There are four key Covid symptoms to look out for as the UK has seen an increase in patients testing positive for the disease. And, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the XEC strain of coronavirus has been spreading in the UK. XEC is a combination of the KS.

1.1 and KP.3.

3 variants . It is thought to be highly contagious due to the number of mutations it carries. It was first discovered in Germany and has since been found in 27 countries across Europe , Asia, and North America.

As reported by The Independent , the latest figures from the UKHSA show that the admission rate for patients testing positive rose to 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6. This was up from 3.

7 a week earlier. In an update , Doctor Jamie Lopez Bernal - consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, stated that around 13 percent of Covid cases in the UK are caused by XEC. However, “current information doesn’t suggest we should be more concerned about this variant,” he added.

He said: “We are monitoring this closely and vaccination still offers the best protection.” Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Daily Express While self-isolation is no longer mandatory in the UK, the NHS urges anyone who tests positive for Covid to avoid contact with others for at least five days. You should also stay away from vulnerable people for 10 days, the health body says.

It is believed that the XEC strain presents simi.