Covid deaths rise amid XEC variant concern as people with symptoms told to isolate

Doctors report rise in cases as scientists monitor XEC variant

There has been a rise in Covid hospital cases and deaths amid concern over the XEC variant. Scientists are carrying out tests to find out more about the new variant.

It comes as cases of respiratory viral infections such as cold and Covid are soaring as we head towards winter. The UK Health Security Agency said that positive testing rates for Covid had risen to 14.6% compared to 13.5% in the previous week. This is based on a percentage of people who test positive in hospital settings, the Mirror reports.

Covid hospitalisations rose slightly to 4.64 per 100,000 compared to 4.46 per 100,000 in the previous week. This has gone up from 3.72 per 100,000 two weeks ago, showing how numbers are rising.

READ MORE: Alert over medieval disease after surge in Midlands cases as doctors say it's 'worrying'

Cases rose 17.8% to 3,496 in the seven days to October 9. In the latest week where figures are available to October 4 there were 163 deaths - up 27.3%. It comes amid continued monitoring of the impact of the XEC variant.

Positive test rates were highest in those aged 85 or more years. The highest hospital admission rate is currently in the North East at 8.91 per 100,000.

Doctors are now urging vulnerable people to ensure they are vaccinated against the three "winter threats" - Covid, flu and RSV. People have also been advised to limit their social contact if they have Covid symptoms.

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, previously said: “If you’re eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats – Covid, flu and RSV – now is the time to take them up and get winter strong. We understand people may be concerned about new variants.

"Our surveillance shows that where Covid cases are sequenced, around one in 10 are the ‘XEC’ lineage. Current information doesn’t suggest we should be more concerned about this variant but we are monitoring this closely. The most important thing to do is to get your vaccination as soon as possible if you’re eligible.

“If you are showing symptoms of flu or Covid such as a high temperature, cough, and feeling tired and achy, try to limit your contact with others, especially those who are vulnerable.” While isolation rules are no longer mandatory, the NHS says you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test.

Further to this, you should avoid contact with vulnerable people 10 days after testing positive. The new strain, called XEC, was first detected in Germany in June but has since hit the UK, Denmark and the United States.