What it's really like to have Covid right now as 'distinctive' XEC variant symptoms spread

A new Covid-19 variant is spreading globally and has already shown signs of transmitting quicker than previous strains, according to researchers.

And many people are now sharing anecdotally that they are coming down in droves with Covid-like illnesses, with some choosing to test and discovering positive results.

Testing for the vast majority of people has taken a huge decline following the end of widespread testing drives, and the cost which now comes with buying lateral flows kits. The absence of a large-scale, mandatory reporting system for test results also means it’s often difficult for public health chiefs to know the exact number of cases swirling around and how quickly the latest strains are spreading.

READ MORE: New XEC Covid variant: What we know about symptoms and booster vaccines as it spreads 'more easily'

But as the winter flu and cold season sets in, and children have gone back to school, many people are sharing that they are coming down with suspicious symptoms - testing to discover it’s coronavirus. That uptick comes as the new XEC variant has now been detected in 27 countries across Europe, Asia and North America.

Despite only being found three weeks ago, 13% of cases in Germany are now the XEC variant. More than 80 cases have now been reported in the UK.

XEC is a recombinant variant by researchers, which occurs when two existing strains combine - a may happen if an individual contracts both strains simultaneously. XEC is formed from the KP.3.3 and KS. 1.1 strains, with genetic links to omicron - a variant initially spotted in South Africa in 2021 known for its high contagion levels and reduced severity compared to earlier SARS-CoV-2 strains.

Richard Orton, a Bioinformatics Research Associate at the