A new Covid strain, known as XEC, has been identified at least 29 countries so far, including the UK, US, Germany and Denmark as people are urged to have their booster if eligible

A new strain of Covid may produce symptoms in a specific order, researchers warn as UK hospitalisations surge. XEC, first identified in Germany in June, is fast becoming the dominant variant in the UK.

People can experience a high temperature, or fever, a new continuous cough, loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, sore throat, headache, loss of appetite, runny nose, diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick and body aches.

A new study has revealed the order of Covid-19 XEC symptoms that could help differentiate the new variant from other illnesses with similar symptoms like the flu

Covid hospitalisations have surged across Britain at an “alarming” rate as a new variant of the virus emerged, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned. UKHSA figures showed the admission rate for patients testing positive for Covid XEC stood at 4.5 per 100,000 people in the week to October 6 – up from 3.7 a week earlier.

That would mean the usual COVID symptoms listed by the NHS - including a high temperature or shivering, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to sense of smell or taste - would still apply. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, feeling tired or exhausted, an aching body and a headache.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said it is “monitoring” a new highly contagious Covid-19 variant. The new XEC strain is thought to be responsible for around one in 10 cases of the virus in the UK.