Everything you need to know about the New Covid in Summer 2025

Transcript

00:00Hi, I'm health reporter Sarah McCann. With summer on the horizon, COVID couldn't be

00:06further from our minds. However, cases have been steadily rising across the UK.

00:12Here's everything you need to know about the latest COVID variant this spring.

00:17Since the COVID pandemic in 2020, there have been many different types of variants and sub-variants

00:23that have emerged. The latest one, LP81, was first on the scene in July 2023. It is a descendant of

00:30the Omicron variant which caused spikes in cases in 2023 and 2024. What makes LP81 different is that

00:40it has mutations at six locations in its spike protein. This causes the virus to attach to

00:46ourselves easier and can make us unwell. Despite the many different types of COVID variants,

00:52the symptoms have remained largely the same. They include, according to the NHS, a high temperature,

00:58a new continuous cough, a change to your taste or sense of smell, cold or flu-like symptoms including

01:05the headaches, sore throat, blocked nose, as well as fatigue or stomach problems like nausea or a loss

01:12of appetite. The NHS spring COVID booster program is currently underway until June 17th. You can find

01:20out more if you're eligible for the booster or about the signs and symptoms of COVID, what to do if you

01:25think you may have COVID and how to ease those symptoms at nhs.uk.