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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? Your support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n Your support makes all the difference.Read more<\/p>\n Cases of the \u201cAmerican Covid<\/a>\u201d strain are on the rise in England with an increase in positive tests and hospital admissions.<\/p>\n The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed the rate of positive Covid-19 tests in hospitals had increased from 5.9 per cent to 7.0 per cent, according to the latest figures in September. Meanwhile, the hospital admission rate has surged by almost 50 per cent.<\/p>\n Hospital admission rates for Covid-19 were highest in the London<\/a> region, increasing by 79 per cent.<\/p>\n More than half of the positive tests<\/a> were found to be a variant of XFG, also known as the Stratus or \u201cAmerican Covid\u201d strain<\/a>, which was first identified last January and has since spread around the world. The World Health Organisation identified it as a mix of earlier variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2.<\/p>\n Covid-19 hospitalisations peaked in January 2021, according to the UKHSA\u2019s data dashboard, with more than 30,000 in hospital at one point. Vaccination campaigns have continued each autumn since then to try to prevent hospitalisations and deaths.<\/p>\n Health experts have advised those eligible for the autumn Covid-19 vaccination to get the jab, including people aged 75, residents in care homes for older adults, and immunosuppressed individuals.<\/p>\n Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: \u201cWhile Covid-19 activity has shown some recent increases, cases remain at low levels in the UK.<\/p>\n \u201cUKHSA is monitoring all the data relating to Covid-19 variants in the UK and abroad, and we continue to publish our findings in our regular surveillance reports.\u201d<\/p>\n The UKHSA added as the Stratus strain has been in circulation for a year, this winter\u2019s vaccine is specifically designed to protect against it and its variants.<\/p>\n Dr Matthew Siggins, lecturer in immunity and infection biology at the University of Surrey, said that the rise was not a \u201creason for alarm\u201d as many people remained immune from previous infection and vaccination.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no evidence that variants currently circulating in the UK are causing more severe disease,\u201d he told The Independent. \u201cHowever, Covid can still cause serious illness in those at greatest risk.\u201d <\/p>\n Those over 85 were most likely to be hospitalised according to the latest Covid-19 figures, with rates rising to 12.43 per 100,000, compared with 7.08 in the previous week.<\/p>\n Most people no longer need to take lateral flow tests for Covid-19, the NHS said, but advised those with positive tests to stay at home as much as possible and avoid contact with other people for five days, or three days for those under 18.<\/p>\n Everyone who tests positive should avoid meeting people with weakened immune systems for 10 days after the day they took the test.<\/p>\n Dr Siggins added: \u201cCovid is increasing, which is not unexpected for this time of year, but remains at a low level. Waning immunity, changes in circulating variants, as well as increased indoor mixing can all contribute to increasing rates of infection.\u201d<\/p>\n
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More than 30,000 people were in hospital with Covid-19 at the peak of the pandemic (PA)<\/p>\n![\"Vaccinations](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1237424410.jpg\")
Vaccinations for Covid-19 are available to immunosupressed and elderly people (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n