New XEC Covid variant starting to spread

People have started catching a new Covid variant that could soon take off and become the dominant type, according to scientists. 

Identified in Germany, in June, cases of the XEC variant have since emerged in the UK, US, Denmark and several other countries, say users on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

It has some new mutations that might help it spread this autumn, although vaccines should still help prevent severe cases, experts say.