Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the UK, with one particular strain gaining traction as we head towards winter.
It’s not uncommon for respiratory viruses to start doing the rounds as temperatures turn cooler and there are already signs that Covid is circulating. Latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published today, October 8, show that in the week ending October 4, 2026, the rate of positive Covid tests in hospitals increased from 7.9% to 9.1%, while overall weekly hospital admissions increased to 2.04 per 100,000 compared with 1.75 per 100,000 in the previous week.
As of 4 October 2026, a total of 1,638 Covid-19 cases were identified in hospital settings, up from 1,328 cases in the previous week. The UKSHA said positivity rates were highest among people aged 85 and over, with cases rising from 13.1% in the week to October 4, up from 10.4% in the same age group on the previous Sunday.
Of all the positive Covid-19 samples sequenced between August 31, 2026 and September 13, 2025, 9.1% were classified as XFG, a variant known as the Stratus or ‘American Covid’ strain, which was first identified last January and has since spread globally.
The World Health Organisation identified it as a mix of the LF.7 and LP.8.1.2 variants and XFG was designated a ‘variant under monitoring’ on June 25, 2025.
The XFG strain is the most common current Covid-19 variant, according to the UKHSA, and current Covid vaccines are expected to remain effective to protect against it. There is also no data to indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness or deaths than other variants in circulation.
The UKHSA said today (October 8): “UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data shows that COVID-19 positive test rates rose to around 7% in September, with hospital admission rates increasing by approximately 50% over the same period.
“These increases have been observed consistently across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as across Europe and the United States, indicating this is not a localised trend.
“Current data does not indicate that these variants lead to more severe illness than other variants in circulation. UKHSA monitors a range of surveillance systems, including GP appointments, A&E attendances and hospitalisations, alongside genomic sequencing, to track how variants are behaving.
“As increases in hospitalisations are rising in line with overall increases in COVID-19 circulation – rather than rising sharply on their own – this suggests a general increase in COVID-19 activity rather than a variant causing more severe disease.”
While Covid is currently circulating at low levels, activity has increased so it’s important to know the symptoms to look for. In most cases these will get better within a few weeks, but for some it can take longer.
The NHS says if you have a high temperature and/or you don’t feel well enough to go to work or school then you should stay at home and avoid contact with others. Listed are 12 symptoms of the American Covid XFG strain to look for right now.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
