Symptoms are thought to be the same cold or flu-like ones as before:
a high temperature
aches
tiredness
a cough or sore throat
Most people feel better within a few weeks of Covid but it can take longer to recover.
There has been “strong growth” of XEC in Denmark and Germany – accounting for nearly one out of every five recent samples tested, Covid data analyst Mike Honey says on X, external.
In the UK, it is about one out of every 10.
There is far less routine testing than before, making it difficult to know how much Covid might be around.
The UK Health Security Agency says it is normal for viruses to mutate and change.
People qualifying for a free booster vaccine include:
over-64s
those living in a care home for older adults
those over the age of six months in a clinical risk group
some front-line NHS, care-home and social-care workers
The main vaccination drive for flu and Covid, external will start in October, although some may receive their shots earlier.