Revised headline: "Emerging Covid Variant Linked to Surge in UK Hospitalizations, Highlighting Unusual Symptoms"

The highest hospital admission rate for confirmed COVID-19 continues to be in those aged over 85 years

Hospital admissions for confirmed COVID-19 remain highest among those aged over 85 years, reaching 34.70 per 100,000, following the identification of a new Covid variant.

Scientists have issued a warning about the emergence of the KP.3 variant in early April, part of the FLiRT group of Covid-19 variants. These variants, including KP.1.1, KP.3, and KP.2, collectively account for 40 per cent of all Covid cases in the UK as of April 2024, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency.

KP.2 initially drove infections in May before KP.3 took over, nearly doubling UK infections to 44 per cent within two weeks. KP.2’s share has since decreased to 22 per cent. Hospital admissions rose by 24 per cent in the week leading up to Sunday, climbing from 2.67 to 3.31 people per 100,000, according to UKHSA figures.

While the highest hospital admission rates persist among those aged over 85 years, increases have also been observed in age groups between 65-74 years, 75-84 years, and younger demographics.

The decline in population immunity has contributed to the variant's spread. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, emphasized that Covid is not a seasonal infection, warning of a potential summer wave: “This is a wake-up call. The virus hasn’t disappeared and isn’t confined to certain seasons.”