Covid is doing the rounds again – here’s everything you need to know about the new rules

The new Covid-19 variant, known as XEC, is circulating. These are the symptoms to watch for, and what to do if you test positive

Autumn’s here, the schools have gone back and like clockwork there’s a new Covid variant circulating. Called XEC, it’s thought to be slightly more infectious than the other strains circulating and most common in central Europe. So what does the arrival of this new variant mean for us – and is it time to get the masks out? 
Covid XEC is a new subvariant of Covid-19, meaning the strain is a cross between two other variations of the virus. It’s normal and expected for viruses to genetically change over time. As immunity grows, viruses mutate and that’s why the latest strains tend to be more contagious. Francois Balloux, a professor of computational biology and the director at UCL Genetics Institute says that “XEC has a slight transmission advantage” over other Covid variants currently in circulation, but protection provided by vaccines and prior Covid infections against severe symptoms remains in place.
It will take a few more weeks or months before medical professionals can assess how severe the XEC strain’s symptoms really are.
Prof Balloux also says that it is anticipated that SARS-CoV-2 case numbers will again increase during the coming winter.
“The XEC subvariant is not fuelling a surge, and is not anticipated to cause the next wave, but when cases will go up, it may well represent a sizable proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections. It is possible that XEC will become the dominant subvariant over the winter.”
“Most people who get this variant will not know which variant they have,” adds Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia. “It’s difficult to say for certain, though early indications are that it’s not going to be one of the strains with relatively mild symptoms. These days Covid is so infectious that infection numbers are driven primarily by loss of immunity so there is very little most of us can do to stop getting an infection.”
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The UK Health Agency (UKHSA) has not yet released comprehensive data about the XEC variant.
If you do find you’ve tested positive, here’s a refresher on Covid etiquette.
Prof Balloux says: “There is no evidence that XEC symptoms may differ from those caused by any other SARS-CoV-2 lineage currently in circulation. It is not anticipated that XEC will cause different symptoms.”
It’s no longer a legal requirement to do lateral flow tests for Covid and they are no longer covered by the NHS. But if you might be around vulnerable people or if you think it’s a good idea, they’re still available to buy at high street chemists for £1.75 per test, or £9 for five tests.
Prof Hunter says PCR tests should detect the new strain.“PCR tests will definitely pick up XEC – they target parts of the virus that are genetically very stable and identifiable. We don’t know whether lateral flow tests will detect XEC, but we know they are not as effective at detecting Covid in general.”
If you do test positive for Covid, there is no legal obligation to tell your employer that you are infected, you can still go to work and do not need to take a lateral flow test. There is also no legal requirement to wear masks but those with infections would be responsible to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. 
Sameeah Anibaba, a primary care network clinical pharmacist, says: “If you are showing symptoms of Covid-19 or flu, it’s best to avoid contact with other people, especially around those who are more vulnerable.” 
Elderly people or those with weakened immune systems are more likely to fall seriously ill if they contract Covid.
There is no legal requirement to self isolate or stay at home but, if you want to avoid spreading the infection to others you should avoid close contact with people, particularly those who may be vulnerable.
No. There is no requirement for either of you to isolate.
No. Covid-19 remains a serious risk for the elderly, particularly if they have health problems or a history of adverse responses to previous Covid infections. NHS advice is to avoid contact with vulnerable people for 10 days after you take the test  to protect them. 
There is no mandate to wear a mask if you have a Covid infection. However, the virus mainly spreads through airborne droplets so if you want to take measures to protect others, wearing one can help reduce the spread, especially when indoors or in a crowded place with poor ventilation. Studies show that wearing a mask in public is effective in reducing the spread of respiratory diseases.
Government advice says that Covid presents a low risk to children and young people and that children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to go to school, college or childcare. Those who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home.
The NHS advises caution saying children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults. If your child has tested positive for Covid-19, they should stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days after the day the test was taken if they are under 18 years old; for five days if they are over 18 years old and for 10 days if more likely to get seriously ill from viruses or be around vulnerable people.
Thanks to some vigilant habits formed during the pandemic, testing for Covid became normalised and tests are still available to buy but this is not true for common colds and the flu. 
The vaccine programme has been reduced since the initial rollouts earlier in the pandemic. Now, only specific groups are eligible for vaccinations through seasonal booster programmes. For those more likely to become seriously ill from Covid, the NHS offers a free booster shot.
You may be offered a Covid-19 vaccine if you:
Prof Hunter says vaccines offer good protection. “We know that protection against severe disease [following infection or vaccination] lasts months. I also suspect the immunity to infection duration is probably getting longer too, though it’s an impression we can’t currently prove.
“A single round of vaccinations probably offers around 50 per cent protection from infection for around four months, but will protect from severe illness for about 12 to 18 months. So if you’d had a vaccine and/or an infection over a year ago, you’re unlikely to be protected against an infection but will still have good protection against severe disease. Recent epidemiology has been driven less by new variants and more by waning immunity.”
Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, says that through a combination of vaccination and natural infection we have built up a lot of immunity in the population and, though this isn’t doing much to slow the virus down, it is stopping most of us from getting very ill. “Not all of us though, so people are still dying from Covid. For that reason we should continue to be cautious, especially in settings like hospitals and care homes. I am afraid that this is what living with Covid looks like.”
Anibaba says: “A general consensus I often get from my patients within the community and in primary care is ‘when is it going to end’. There’s often panic at the thought of a new variant and its potential to cause complete chaos. I want to reassure the public that this new variant is nothing to cause panic. Remaining up to date with booster vaccines still offers protection against severe disease, and these preventative measures remain crucial especially for high-risk patients.”