A highly infectious new covid subvariant that experts believe will drive the next wave of the virus in the UK is making up a significant proportion of cases in Wirral.
The XBB.1.5 subvariant of the Omicron variant has caused a surge in cases in the United States and there are concerns that the UK could see a similar wave of cases.
The World Health Organization's senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said XBB.1.5 is the most transmissible Omicron sub-variant that has been detected so far. It spreads rapidly because of the mutations it contains, allowing it to adhere to cells and replicate easily
