A COVID-19 strain dubbed “American COVID” is increasing in England as hospital admissions linked to the virus rise sharply, according to figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The strain, identified as part of the Stratus variant, accounted for more than half of positive COVID-19 tests recorded in hospitals, according to the latest figures reported by Metro.
The UKHSA said the proportion of positive COVID-19 tests in hospitals increased from 5.9 per cent to seven per cent last month.
Hospital admissions have also increased by almost 50 per cent, with London recording the highest rise at 79 per cent.
The development has renewed attention on COVID-19 activity in England, although health officials have stressed that overall levels remain low.
People considered particularly vulnerable to the virus have been urged to get vaccinated. They include people aged 75 and above, residents of care homes for older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
Alex Allen, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said the recent increase did not mean COVID-19 had reached unusually high levels in the UK.
“While COVID-19 activity has shown some recent increases, cases remain at low levels in the UK.
“UKHSA is monitoring all the data relating to COVID-19 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in our regular surveillance reports.”
The Stratus variant has also been identified in other countries and is known scientifically as XFG. UKHSA information has previously identified XFG as one of the common Covid-19 lineages being monitored.
Despite the increase in hospital activity, there is currently no indication from UKHSA that the variant causes more severe illness than other Covid-19 variants in circulation.
The rise comes as health authorities continue to monitor Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses through surveillance systems across England.
UKHSA’s current surveillance programme includes monitoring Covid-19 alongside viruses such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and norovirus. The agency has also expanded wastewater surveillance to help identify infectious disease trends and potential emerging threats.
The latest figures underline the continued circulation of COVID-19 in England, while officials are encouraging people at higher risk of serious illness to take up available vaccination protection.
UKHSA data also show that COVID-19 activity can fluctuate and that recent figures may be affected by reporting delays, meaning the most recent data can be subject to revision.