Overview
- UKHSA data show positivity rising to 8.4% in a week and hospital admissions up to 2.73 per 100,000, a sharp increase from late summer levels.
- Stratus (XFG) and Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) now dominate UK monitoring, with UKHSA figures reporting roughly 63% and 25% of tracked cases respectively.
- Free autumn vaccination is restricted to adults 75 and over, care home residents, and immunosuppressed people, and pharmacies report many arrivals being turned away for ineligibility.
- The NHS is offering treatments for those at highest risk, including nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid), sotrovimab (Xevudy) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio), making early testing important.
- Clinicians highlight hoarseness and a severe ‘razor blade’ sore throat among common symptoms, with guidance to stay home for five days after a positive test for adults and three days for under‑18s.