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UKHSA: hospital Covid positivity in England rises to 7%, XFG 'Stratus' variant behind over half

UKHSA data show the share of Covid tests positive in English hospitals rose from 5.9% to 7%, with admissions up almost 50% and more than half of positives from the XFG ('Stratus') variant, dubbed 'American Covid' by the press. UKHSA says cases remain low and there is no evidence the strains make people more ill.

2 outlets · 2L · 0C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Metro
Image: Daily Mirror

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The story, neutrally told

Left · 1The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that the rate of positive Covid-19 tests in hospitals in England rose from 5.9% to 7%. Left · 2Hospital admissions rose by almost 50%, with London seeing the highest increase, at 79%. Left · 1More than half of positive tests involved a variant of XFG, also called 'Stratus' and nicknamed 'American Covid' in the press because it is the most common variant in North America.

Left · 2XFG is a combination of the earlier variants LF.7 and LP.8 and was first identified in January 2025; the Mirror says it has become the dominant strain worldwide. Left · 1The Mirror, citing figures from 23 September, reported weekly cases of 1,364, up 303 (28.6%) on the previous week, and 18 deaths up to 18 September, one fewer than before. Left · 2Alex Allen, a UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, said Covid-19 activity had shown some recent increases but cases remain at low levels in the UK, and that UKHSA is monitoring variant data and publishing it in regular surveillance reports.

Left · 1In Metro's explainer, Allen is quoted as saying the current strains are closely related to ones circulating for over a year, that there is no evidence they make people more ill or spread faster, and that this year's autumn vaccine was designed to protect against them. Left · 2People at higher risk, including those aged 75 and over, care home residents and immunosuppressed people, are being urged to get vaccinated. Left · 1The Mirror also quoted Reddit users describing whole households falling ill and symptoms lasting weeks; these are anecdotal accounts, not UKHSA findings.

Left · 1Metro notes that health agencies generally do not publish Covid death figures by variant, so deaths from XFG specifically cannot be given.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Both Metro and the Mirror use the 'American Covid' nickname and lead with the rise in hospital positivity and admissions; Metro's follow-up explainer is more reassuring, while the Mirror stresses 'urgent' warnings and people's experiences of prolonged illness.
Emphasis
Hospital positivity, the 79% London rise, symptoms, and Allen's statement that cases remain low; Metro adds explanation of the variant's origin and reassurance on vaccines.
Leaves out or plays down
The Mirror omits Allen's remarks that there is no evidence of greater severity or faster spread and that the autumn vaccine targets these strains, which appear in Metro's explainer. Metro's first article does not give weekly case or death counts.
Charged language
“American Covid”“urgent Covid warning”“mutant Covid”“surge”
For example
“An American Covid-19 strain is on the rise in England, as more people are admitted to hospital.” — Metro
“Brits issued urgent Covid warning as England sees surge of 'American' variant as number in hospital rises” — Daily Mirror
“No, it's not a virus covered in stars and stripes.” — Metro

Centre0 outlets

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Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.