 Recent rises in Covid infections are thought to have been driven by the variant BQ.1. Both BQ.1 and XBB mutations are believed to have played a part in infections going up in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. More than 700 cases of the new Covid strains have been identified, with both being descendants of Omicron, the current dominant strain. BQ.1 stems from BA.5, the Omicron type that fuelled a summer resurgence of infections. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said both BQ.1 and XBB are being monitored for their potential to spread rapidly. However, neither have been designated variants of concern, meaning it is not currently feared that they could herald a huge spike in cases. BQ.1 is being monitored because of its 'rapid growth'. The UKHSA said there is a potential for it and mutations like it to cause a 'further increase in transmission' of the vir){kind=link}
Omicron is still the dominant Covid variant in the UK. New mutations of it are helping cause an uptick in infections across the UK, with the BQ.1 strain one of those being closely watched
A year ago, Omicron was making waves across the country as ministers made masks compulsory again in shops and on public transport to try and stop Christmas being ruined by another lockdown.
December 25 was able to go ahead without restrictions on family gatherings in the end and, since then, coronavirus has diluted in terms of the amount of press attention it gets and the numbers of people infected has decreased.
But Omicron mutations are back and thought to be behind an uptick in Covid-19 cases in recent months – although levels are well below what Britain experienced last winter and even in the summer months just gone.
One of the variants being kept closely monitored by scientists in the UK and worldwide is BQ.1.