Health experts have confirmed that a new Covid variant has been found in the UK. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was looking at the XE variant, which is a mutation of the BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron strains.
It is what's known as a 'recombinant'. Experts at the UKHSA say it's too early to know whether it is more transmissible than previous versions of the virus.
The body said that 637 cases of XE had been detected in England as of March 22. That would make it only a fraction of the tens of thousands of total cases being reported each day at the moment, The Independent has reported.
