Covid XEC: Doctors warn symptoms could show up in specific order

Doctors have warned that symptoms of the new XEC variant of Covid-19 appear in a specific order. Brits are facing a triple-threat in the cold weather as cases of the variant are on the rise.

The climb in cases comes amid low flu vaccination rates and growing numbers of people with respiratory syncytial virus or RSV. All three of these illnesses may seem to have similar symptoms and early stages on paper.

But a new study from the University of Southern California has revealed the exact order in which Covid-19 symptoms arise. The variant is expected to become the 'most dominant strain in UK' soon.

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Doctors say it could help people differentiate between this new variant and other sickly threats over winter, SurreyLive reports.

The order of symptoms is as follows:

The new XEC Covid strain is otherwise very similar to previous variants, particularly because it is a combination of omicron subvariants. Dr Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at the University of California, noted: "The symptoms seem to be the same as with other recent subvariants of Omicron."

New figures have shown that a variant of Covid – known as the XEC strain – is spreading across the UK. The admission rate for patients testing positive for Covid-19 stood at 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6, up from 3.7 a week earlier.

It is the fourth weekly rise in a row, according to data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, said: “Covid-19 is continuing to circulate, with a slight increase in hospitalisations over the past two weeks.

“As winter