All the latest Covid symptoms as new FLiRT variants hit UK

This is the latest full list of Covid symptoms as new FLiRT variants hit the UK. Covid cases are continuing to rise in the UK as the new highly-contagious FLiRT variants spread rapidly throughout the country.

It is feared new strains have already become dominant after a surge in the number of people testing positive and being hospitalised. Experts say they could be behind behind a sudden 21% rise in cases and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there has been a sharp increase in Covid cases week on week.

Professor Christina Pagel, of University College London, has said: "I think we are the start of a Covid wave driven by the FLiRT variants which are quite likely to be at about 50 per cent of total infections now."

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The spike could be caused by a mutation called FLiRT, as three new FLiRT strains, KP. 1.1, KP. 3 and KP. 2 now account for 40% of all cases in the UK. The figures were last updated at the end of April, meaning the strain could now be responsible for more than 50% of all cases and be dominant in the UK. The latest figures show a 21.2% week-on-week increase in Covid cases in England, 106 new deaths and a 73% increase in patients admitted to hospital with Covid.

The new mutations are also reported to account for a quarter of all cases in the USA - with concerns it is already widespread.

A spokesman for the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention said: "Viruses constantly change through mutation and sometimes these mutations result in a new variant of the virus. Some changes and mutations allow the virus to spread more easily or make it resistant to treatments or vaccines.

"As