COVID-19 infections have increased in England in recent weeks, with health authorities reporting a sharp rise in hospital admissions and a growing share of cases linked to the XFG variant, which has been referred to in parts of the British media as the "Stratus" variant. Current evidence, however, does not indicate that the variant causes more severe illness than other circulating strains.

According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the number of people admitted to hospital with COVID-19 rose by 50 per cent over the past week, while the positivity rate of hospital COVID-19 tests increased from 5.9 per cent to 7.0 per cent, indicating wider community transmission.

The situation is particularly notable in London, where hospital admissions have climbed by 80 per cent over the past seven days. Among people aged 85 and over, the hospital admission rate increased from 7.08 to 12.43 per 100,000 population, making older adults the group most affected by the recent rise.

Health experts urge vigilance

Dr Matthew Siggins of the University of Surrey said the increase in infections was not unexpected for this time of year, noting that seasonal fluctuations in respiratory viruses are common during the autumn months.

Most current infections are associated with the XFG variant. The XFG variant, which has been dubbed "American COVID" by some British media outlets, was first identified in January 2025 and has since spread in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It generally causes symptoms similar to those seen with previous COVID-19 strains.

Patients infected with the XFG variant commonly experience cough, fever, sore throat, headache, fatigue and a runny nose. Some patients have also reported gastrointestinal symptoms.

Dr Renée Hoenderkamp said she had observed a noticeable increase in patients presenting with sore throat, headache, runny nose and fatigue over the past several weeks, adding that these symptoms have become increasingly common in her clinical practice.

The UKHSA has stressed that, despite the recent rise in cases, there is no evidence that the XFG variant causes more severe disease than other variants currently in circulation. Health officials continue to advise older adults and people with weakened immune systems to remain vigilant and follow public health guidance to reduce the risk of infection.(ILKHA)