A new Omicron sub-variant of coronavirus has started to spread across the world. According to new data eight cases of the new variant, called Arcturus, have been identified in Wales.
While mass testing is no longer being carried out in Wales testing is still routinely carried out in hospitals. As of April 17 there have been 120 cases of Arcturus reported in the UK of which five proved fatal according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The virus has spread across the country and according to the data is present across the UK in all but one region, which is the northeast of England. London is the current hotspot with 31 confirmed cases followed by the northwest with 22 cases then the southeast with 19 and the east of England with 10. Wales has eight cases, the west midlands has six, Scotland has five, the east midlands four, the southwest three, Northern Ireland two, Yorkshire and the Humber one, and the northeast none.
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Arcturus is a subvariant of Omicron which seems to be more transmissible. The variant spiked a surge of infections in India earlier this month which led to the return of compulsory face masks in public places in some states.
The variant also appears to have a new symptom not often associated with coronavirus, according to the Mirror. Reports from doctors in India, where the strain is rife, have said they are seeing more children and adolescents with the variant presenting with conjunctivitis or 'pink eye'.
Arcturus cases across the UK
- London: 31
- Northwest: 22
- East of England: 10
- Southeast: 19
- Wales: Eight
- West midlands: Six
- Scotland: Five
- East midlands: Four
- Southwest: Three
- Northern Ireland: Two
- Yorkshire and the Humber: One
- Northeast: Zero
- Unknown: Nine
As things stand there is no evidence to suggest that the new subvariant is deadlier than past ones. But the UKHSA, who declared it a designated variant, said that despite low case numbers there is some early evidence suggesting the subvariant is more contagious than past ones but cautioned sample sizes were low. From April 3-9 Arcturus is thought to have accounted for 2.3% of Covid sequences in the UK, the Mirror reports.
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