A new Covid variant called XFG, circulating online as 'American Covid' or 'Stratus Covid', is spreading in the United Kingdom. Hospitalisations linked to the variant have risen more than 400% in a single month, according to coverage by The Independent and the Daily Mirror.

Health media in the UK and India are raising concerns as one that can persist for weeks at a time, with two symptoms getting significant focus on social platforms. Officials have yet to issue formal advice, but the rapid rise in hospital cases has triggered warnings on health and news platforms.