XFG Covid: What are the symptoms of ‘American’ strain as cases soar?

• Latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency show Covid-19 cases in the UK jumped by 230 per cent from 1,374 in August to 4,589 in September, with hospital admissions rising by over 420 per cent to 4,939.
• More than half of the positive hospital tests were attributed to the XFG variant, also referred to as Stratus or American Covid, which is a recombinant strain derived from earlier variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2.
• Health officials note that while current virus activity remains well below the peak recorded in January 2021, actual infection figures are likely higher as official data only captures patients tested in NHS hospitals.
• Health authorities are encouraging eligible individuals to receive their winter flu and Covid-19 vaccinations, highlighting that this season's jab is tailored specifically to protect against the XFG strain and its sub-variants.
• Symptoms of the XFG strain are similar to previous variants. It can cause a sore throat, cough, fever and hoarseness. The NHS recommends that individuals exhibiting symptoms avoid contact with others for five days, or three days for under-18s, and stay away from vulnerable individuals for 10 days.

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What is XFG Covid strain? Symptoms to look out for as UK cases grow