New Covid Variant 'More Contagious'

Expert issues warning as fears grow that new wave may emerge

- Ferghal Blaney

HEALTH experts believe the newest Covid variant is already circulating in Ireland, despite only one case being recorded here.

The mutation, known as Omicron XE, is even more contagious than the other versions of Omicron, and while it is not as deadly as previous forms of Covid, it does still kill.

As of yesterday, five cases were confirmed in the North while 1,200 cases were recorded in the whole of the UK.

The real fear is that the massive surge in India, which has six million cases so far this month, could see a new Covid wave emerge across the world - just when people were beginning to think we were on top of the disease.