The latest coronavirus strains that are set to circulate through winter ahead of Christmas has prompted a new warning from health officials.

Doctors are urging people to "remain vigilant" over two Covid variants, the first called HV.1 - which is said to be "more transmissible" and more immune ivasive than previous strains. Derived from Omicron, it is currently the dominant variant in the United States.

Meanwhile, a separate variant called JN.1, which evolved from Pirola, has been detected recently in the UK, US, Iceland, Portugal and Spain. This strain is said to carry mutations that could help it avoid detection by the immune system, according to Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Principal Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Bedfordshire.

The expert has warned people to be on the look out for symptoms of both strains, adding that anyone with the HV.1 strain may experience a fever, coughing, tiredness, nasal congestion or a runny nose. Whilst JN.1 also causes these symptoms, this strain can cause diarrhoea and headaches too, experts say.

As reported by Belfast Live, Dr Papadopoulos added: “There’s no evidence yet of new or unique symptoms linked to these variants. It’s essential for everyone, especially those at higher risk, to be observant of the symptoms we are aware of.”

Official advice from the NHS website states that if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do normal activities, you should try to stay at home until you feel better and get plenty of rest.

The NHS offers treatment to people with COVID-19 who are at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill, and anyone who has been told they are in this category should keep rapid lateral flow tests at home.

Full list of symptoms for Covid HV.1

• Fever
• Coughing
• Tiredness
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• For JN.1:
• Fever
• Coughing
• Tiredness
• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Diarrhoea
• Headaches

A new dose of Covid-19 vaccine is currently being offered to certain groups of the population to boost their immunity ahead of the winter.

Everyone in Scotland aged 65 and over is eligible for the jab, along with care home residents, frontline health and social care staff. It's also available to those increased risk because they are pregnant or have a certain underlying health condition, unpaid carers, and household contacts of anyone with a weakened immune system.

NHS Scotland is offering the vaccine to children aged sic months to four years at higher risk of Covid-19 due to an underlying health condition. A fresh surge of infections added to pressures on health services last December, though the wave was not as great as those seen during the early years of the pandemic.

Dr Mary Ramsay, UKHSA director of public health programmes, said: “Our weekly surveillance shows flu levels remain stable, but in the coming weeks as we approach winter we expect this to change and will continue to monitor these rates closely.

“If you show signs of respiratory symptoms, you should avoid mixing with others where possible to stop the spread of viruses like flu and Covid-19. Getting vaccinated before we reach peak flu season offers the best protection."

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