By Ryan Price

Copyright manchestereveningnews

For many people, coronavirus may seem like a thing of the past. However, a new COVID variant has experienced a surge in the UK in recent months, causing symptoms that might easily be dismissed and overlooked. According to the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data, in the seven days up to September 3, there were 1,541 cases recorded across England. This is up 7.1 per cent week-on-week. The UKHSA’s latest COVID-19 surveillance report shows the most prevalent lineage of the disease is now XFG. Nicknamed the Stratus variant , the XFG strain of the virus and its spin-offs, XFG.3 and XFG 3.1, now make up around 75 per cent of cases in England. In July it was only around 40 per cent. Stratus was declared a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on June 25, meaning it needs prioritised attention due to characteristics of the variant that may pose an additional threat. There is some evidence to suggest that mutations on the virus make it better at evading immunity from antibodies developed from the COVID vaccine and previous infections. This means it might be harder for our bodies’ defences to fight it off. However, the WHO has said there is currently no evidence to suggest the variant poses additional health risks compared to previous strains of the virus. It ranks the variant’s overall risk as “low”. The Stratus strain is known for its unique symptom of giving people a hoarse voice, which is not typical of other COVID strains. “One of the most noticeable symptoms of the Stratus variant is hoarseness, which includes a scratchy or raspy voice”, Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and founder of Hannah London Clinic, told Cosmopolitan UK . In general, he said the symptoms of Stratus tend to be “mild to moderate”. Last week, Brits were urged to secure their COVID vaccinations as soon as possible as hospital admission figures have begun to rise. In a statement published on social media platform X, the UKHSA directed people to the most recent flu and Covid data, noting that both viruses “continue to circulate”. The agency stated: “We have published our latest data on flu and COVID-19, which continue to circulate at low levels. “Weekly COVID-19 hospital admission rates remain low but have increased slightly. Eligible groups can now book their vaccination appointments.” The NHS says common symptoms of Covid-19 include