A “highly transmissible” Covid strain has emerged and is already behind one in 25 cases in the UK, surveillance data suggests.
XBB is a subvariant of the Omicron BA.2 variant, and XBB.1.5 is a subvariant of XBB. Recent studies into the new variant suggested that the subvariant is highly transmissible and has developed resistance to immunity.
Waning immunity, more indoor mixing because of the cold weather and lack of other mitigations, such as wearing facemasks, are also contributing to this surge of infection.
We recommend checking out our Coronavirus Hub to find out more about the virus and how you can shield your loved ones by getting a vaccination or a booster shot.
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