Brits are being warned over a new more contagious Covid variant that may become the dominant type . The XEC strain , which was first discovered in Germany back in June, has now been found in 15 countries across three continents. Experts say the strain is now 'taking charge' and is likely to spread across the globe.
Eric Topol, the director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, said the XEC variant is "just getting started" but it will only be a couple of months until the strain "takes hold and starts to cause a wave". And now Prof Francois Balloux, Director of the Genetics Institute at University College London has said that the XEC variant is more contagious but that vaccines should still offer good protection. A drive for Covid vaccinations begins next month in the UK although some people may receive their shots earlier.
Prof Balloux told the BBC that XEC has a “slight transmission advantage” and that it may become the dominant variant this winter. While Mr Topol, 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." The latest figures for the UK show a 4.3% increase in Covid cases week on week.
According to the NHS , its full list symptoms include; a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a.