Cases of new Covid variant LP.8.1 double in UKExperts say the new variant is 'under monitoring' as it spreads rapidly, reaching 23 countries already

A new Covid variant is causing thousands of infections with experts warning it has the potential to spread rapidly - and the number of cases it has caused in the UK has doubled in the last few weeks. The World Health Organisation says the new variant - LP.8.1 - is one of two designated a Variant Under Monitoring, the other being XEC. It has already been detected in 23 countries. XEC accounts for around half of all infections with Covid, and the recently detected LP.8.1 is already responsible for around 10 per cent of infections in some places - and...