Health officials have issued an urgent appeal for eligible residents to come forward for vaccinations as UK Covid-19 hospitalisations see a sharp increase. New data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this afternoon reveals that hospital admissions related to the virus have jumped by nearly 50% in a single week.
The surge is being driven in part by the XFG strain, colloquially dubbed the “American Covid” due to its rapid spread across the United States. While the strain has been in circulation for approximately 12 months, researchers noted it has experienced a significant uptick in prevalence over the last two months, now becoming the dominant variant in several countries.
According to the latest UKHSA figures, the weekly Covid-19 positivity rate has climbed to 9.1%, up from 7.9% the previous week. Hospitalisations have similarly risen to 2.04 per 100,000, compared to 1.75 per 100,000 during the prior period, alongside a slight increase in intensive care admissions.
Dr. Alex Allen, Consultant Epidemiologist at the UKHSA, sought to reassure the public while emphasising the importance of the autumn booster programme. “It’s completely normal for viruses to change over time,” Dr. Allen stated. “The strains currently going around, including those known as XFG, are closely related to strains that have been with us for over a year… we’re not seeing any evidence that these are making people more ill or spreading faster than before.”
However, medical professionals are noting distinct clinical features associated with the XFG variant, also referred to as “Stratus.” Pharmacist Daniel Cheung highlighted a unique symptom that sets it apart from earlier iterations of the virus: a persistent hoarseness or a scratchy, raspy voice.
The current rise in Covid-19 is compounding concerns about an impending winter flu season, which is showing signs of an unusually early start. UKHSA reports indicate that flu activity throughout September was higher than in any of the past four years. While current flu levels remain low, the trajectory suggests a potential early peak. Health authorities are closely monitoring a “drifted” A(H1N1) flu virus, though they stress that the current influenza vaccine is designed to provide broad coverage against multiple strains, including H1N1 and H3N2.
“Flu levels are increasing with the possibility of an early flu season, so now is the time for those eligible to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Jamie Lopez Bernal. Reflecting on last year’s efficacy, modelling suggests the vaccination programme successfully prevented roughly 100,000 hospital admissions and 7,000 deaths.
The UKHSA is urging anyone at higher risk of severe illness to secure their protection immediately. Eligible members of the public can book their Covid and flu vaccinations via the NHS App, online, through their GP, or at local pharmacies.
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