A new Covid variant called XFG, tagged on social media as 'American Covid' or 'Stratus Covid', is spreading in the United Kingdom. Hospitalisations linked to the variant have risen more than 400% in a single month, according to coverage by The Independent and the Daily Mirror.

Health media in the UK and India are flagging the variant as one that can persist for weeks at a time, with two symptoms drawing particular attention online. Officials have not yet released detailed guidance, but the sharp increase in hospitalisations has triggered warnings on health and news platforms.