There has been a surge in cases of the new Omicron sub-variant XE in the UK, reaching a record high for the pandemic.
The Office for National Statistics reported that 4.9 million people in the UK had the coronavirus as of last weekend.
The relaxing of Covid restrictions and the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant are thought to be responsible for the rise in infections.
What is Omicron XE?
Omicron XE is a combination of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2, but with three separate and distinct mutations.
The World Health Organisation said last week that the XE recombinant could be more transmissible and was first detected in the UK on January 19.
“Early day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of 10 per cent as compared to BA.2, however this finding requires further confirmation,” the WHO's report said.
“XE belongs to the Omicron variant until significant differences in transmission and disease characteristics, including severity, may be reported.”
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A family member pays their respects to those who lost their lives to Covid-19, as the one year anniversary of the National Covid Memorial Wall is marked in London. PA -
A woman holds a photograph of a family member who died as she takes part in a march from the National Covid Memorial wall to Downing Street in London. AP Photo -
Bereaved families travelled to the wall from across the country to mark the day, with a petition to make the wall a permanent memorial. AP Photo -
Bereaved families march alongside the wall. PA -
Families with MPs Sir Peter Bottomley, right, and Afzal Khan, left, deliver a petition to 10 Downing Street. PA -
Family members write a message to two sisters who died of Covid-19 on the National Covid Memorial wall. AP Photo -
Becca Slater, centre, receives a hug as she remembers her father Anthony Elward, who died in 2020. AP Photo -
A woman writes a message in a red heart on the wall. AP Photo -
Families marching through central London. PA
The UK Health Security Agency said on Monday that the most recent data showed XE had a growth rate 9.8 per cent above BA.2.
But it cautioned that “as this estimate has not remained consistent as new data have been added, it cannot yet be interpreted as an estimate of growth advantage for the recombinant".
“Numbers were too small for the XE recombinant to be analysed by region,” the agency said.
How many have Omicron XE?
So far, 637 XE cases have been identified in the UK, but the true figure is likely to be much higher as the UK has abolished free tests and reduced testing centres.
However, the statistics office says 4.9 million people in the UK have Covid, so the true figure is thought to be much higher than just the number of identified cases.
What are the symptoms?
The new XE sub-variant is thought to have similar symptoms to the original Omicron variant.
They include a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat, which differs from the original strain of the virus that left sufferers with fever, coughs and a loss of taste or smell.
The National Health Service updated its general list of coronavirus symptoms on Monday to include nine new signs of illness.
People are now being advised to look out for shortness of breath, feeling tired or exhausted, an aching body, a headache, a sore throat, a blocked or runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, feeling sick or vomiting.
