In recent days there has been a number of covid updates with the NHS listing new symptoms.
The original three key indicators of being infected with the virus still remain however the list has since been updated accounting for the latest variants.
But just as Scotland managed to get over the omicron wave and thus relaxed its restrictions, another variant has just been discovered.
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The news come as the schools break up across the UK for the Easter holidays which has seen many people jet aboard due to the relaxation around rules.
So with a new variant just having been announced, what is it and what are the symptoms?
What is omicron XE - the latest covid variant?
Previously dominant strains included delta and omicron with stealth omicron now the latest strain to have taken over in Scotland.
But now a mutant strain - known as omicron XE - is spreading across the UK.
This is said to be a combination of the original omicron (BA.1) and stealth omicron (BA.1) both of which have been discovered in the UK.
It comes as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that 4.9 million people in the UK were infected with Covid as of last weekend - a record high during the pandemic and experts say the surge could be down to restrictions easing coupled with the rise of omicron's BA.2 sub-variant, reports the Daily Record.
XE is said to be a 'recombinant' of both the original omicron strain and the so-called stealth omicron.
Speaking about the new strain, Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), told The Sun : “As with other kinds of variant, most will die off relatively quickly.
“This particular recombinant, XE, has shown a variable growth rate and we cannot confirm yet confirm whether it has a true growth advantage. So far there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about transmissibility, severity or vaccine effectiveness."
How many cases of Omicron XE are in the UK?
A report released by the UKHSA have confirmed that 763 cases of the mutant strain have been reported across the UK as of March 22 with 637 of these cases said to have been detected in England.
However it is not known how many are currently in Scotland.
Experts are still carrying out research to confirm whether XE is more transmissible than BA.2.
There is so far no evidence to suggest that XE infections result in more severe symptoms than previous strains of the virus.
In a report released last week the WHO (Word Health Organisation) said the XE recombinant was first detected in the UK on January 19 and said early tests showed it could be more transmissible.
The report said: “Early-day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of 10% as compared to BA.2, however this finding requires further confirmation. XE belongs to the omicron variant until significant differences in transmission and disease characteristics, including severity, may be reported."
What are the symptoms of omicron XE?
Due to recent discovery of the omicron sub-variant, there are currently no new symptoms with Omicron XE.
Omicron symptoms are very similar to a common cold, with classic three symptoms of cough, high temperature and loss of taste or smell less reported.
According to ZOE COVID Study app, the top omicron symptoms are:
Runny nose
Headache
Fatigue (mild or severe)
Sneezing
Sore throat
What are the new official covid symptoms?
The official list of Covid-19 symptoms has been updated to include nine new signs of illness.
Since the start of the pandemic, only three symptoms were listed by the NHS - a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to the sense of smell or taste.
According to the NHS, the signs of covid people should look out for now include:
- Shortness of breath
Feeling tired or exhausted
An aching body
A headache
A sore throat
Feeling tired or exhausted
An aching body
A headache
A sore throat
A blocked or runny nose
Loss of appetite
Diarrhoea
Feeling sick or being sick
A note on website adds: "The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu."
