Overview

• UKHSA first identified the Stratus lineage in January, and the WHO placed it under monitoring in June with a low overall risk rating and no evidence of increased severity.
• UKHSA data show 1,644 Covid cases were reported in the first week of September, marking a week-on-week rise as the Stratus lineage spreads.
• Clinicians report very sore throats and hoarse or scratchy voices as common early symptoms, with some patients also noting gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and bloating.
• Experts say the lineage appears more transmissible with signs of partial immune evasion, and they urge testing, staying home when ill, ventilation, handwashing, and considering masks in crowded indoor spaces.
• From October, free booster doses will be offered to adults over 75, residents of older-adult care homes, and immunosuppressed people aged six months and over.