Talk of the new Covid variant – known as XEC – is currently rife, with reports emerging that the variant, first detected in Germany in June, is spreading across the United States and the rest of Europe.

The XEC Covid-19 variant, first identified in Germany, spreads rapidly across 27 countries, prompting urgent global health responses.

The XEC strain was first detected in Germany back in June, with cases confirmed in 15 different countries since then. Experts say the variant is "just getting started" with reports it could become the