Covid symptoms 2026: What you need to know about latest variants as hospital admissions rise
The NHS warn there has been a ‘bounce back’ in respiratory viruses this winter 🤒
- The latest data show an increase in hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses following the holiday season.
- Covid hospital admissions have increased from the previous weeks.
- There is still time for those eligible to get the Covid vaccine.
The NHS warn there has been a “bounce back” in respiratory viruses this winter, with hospital admissions for the flu, Covid and norovirus on the rise.
Cases of Covid have remained stable, but the latest figures from the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) show that the number of patients in hospital beds with Covid per day has risen from 0.87 per 100,000, compared with 0.77 per 100,000 the previous week.
NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit said: “It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter, with hospitals again experiencing a rise in patients admitted with flu and other respiratory virus cases last week.”
What are the new Covid variants?
Since the pandemic, there have been many new variants of Covid, as the virus continues to evolve. Two new variants were behind a spike of cases in autumn: XFG, known as Stratus, and NB.1.8.1, known as Nimbus.
Stratus is a subvariant of the Omicron variant. It is made up of previous variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2 and was first detected in a sample on January 27, 2025. Nimbus was first detected on January 22, 2025. It also originates from the omicron variant, which was behind a spike of cases in 2023.
Stratus, has been declared as a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organisation (WHO), after several countries in South East Asia reported a rise in new cases and hospitalisations where the variant was detected.
What are the symptoms of Covid?
The symptoms of Covid have largely remained the same, despite the different variants. However, many patients with the new Covid variants Stratus and Nimbus, which caused an increase in cases in autumn, have reported experiencing a hoarse throat or a razor blade feeling in their throat as early symptoms.
Signs of Covid can include:
- a high temperature or shivering
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- body aches
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
Can I still get a Covid vaccine?
There is still time to get the Covid vaccine if you are eligible at your GP, walk-in centre or local pharmacy, but you’ll have to be quick as jabs are only available until January 31.
Hospital admissions for Covid are increasing. You can find out more about the symptoms and how to book in for a vaccine at NHS.UK.