COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates

COVID-19 variants identified in the UK – latest updates The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released a new variant technical briefing detailing updated analysis of epidemiological and genomic data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants currently circulating in the UK, including the XBB.1.5 variant which has been increasing in the US in recent months.

The analysis shows that coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the UK are primarily made up of BQ.1 and its sublineages, consistent with the UKHSA risk assessment published in October. Two variants, CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5, appear to have a growth advantage in the UK. Both are variants in the Omicron family.

XBB.1.5 remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain.

See also:

• Guidance: SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest UK Health Security Agency
• Free PPE to health and social care sectors extended Department of Health and Social Care
• Role of general practice teams in supporting patient access to treatments for Covid-19 NHS England
• 'Kraken' may soon become dominant Covid variant in UK, health chiefs warn The Daily Mail
• Long Covid effects will ‘resolve in a year’ for this group of people The Independent
• Long COVID symptoms 'resolve in a year' for most with mild illness, study finds Sky News