Responsible for the recent surge in Covid cases, the XEC strain of coronavirus is highly-contagious and has been detected in 27 countries across Europe, Asia and North America. According to the most recent data from the UK Health Security Agency, it’s responsible for a rise in hospital admissions, currently 4.5 per 100,000 people. “The XEC variant of Covid-19 has added another layer of complexity to the sore throat diagnosis,” explains Phil Day. “In many cases, a sore throat is one of the initial symptoms. ”However, unlike typical sore throats, sufferers also experience a dry, persistent cough, fatigue, fever and loss of taste or smell – the latter is quite unique to Covid, so keep an eye out for it. While most mild cases can be managed with rest and over-the-counter remedies, it’s best to do a Covid test and follow NHS guidelines for isolation, treatment and care. And, if in doubt, get checked out. Dr Misra-Sharp says: “If you have any concerns about any sore throat, especially with persistent or severe symptoms, please consider seeing a GP.”