Researchers have identified a hybrid Omicron XE coronavirus variant that may be as much as 10 per cent more transmissible than earlier variants.
Several countries have reported the Omicron XD and XF hybrid variants, recombinants of Delta and Omicron.
The latest variants are likely to be contributing to surging Covid infection numbers in the UK. A record 4.9 million people in Britain are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week ending March 26, up from 4.3 million on the week before, the Office for National Statistics said.
Experts are uncertain about whether the new variants produce more severe symptoms in highly vaccinated populations.
Britain's white-collar workers are not hedging their bets, however, with offices emptying rapidly because of high levels of sickness and a desire to avoid infection.
Craig Beaumont, chief of external affairs at the Federation of Small Businesses, told the Financial Times that one in seven UK businesses were operating at a reduced capacity because of sickness.
“Having brought more people back to the workplace, bosses are now increasingly worried at having more Covid-19 there, too,” he said.
“In the face of such disruption, this is the wrong time for the government to withdraw free testing and downgrade safer workplace guidance.”
What are the new Omicron hybrid variants?
The UK Health Security Agency is monitoring three hybrid variants: XD, XE and XF.
Omicron XD variant
Most concern is centred round the XD variant, which is a recombinant sublineage of Delta and Omicron BA.1.
It was first detected in December, with 22,490 samples found by March 22 in France, Denmark and Belgium.
“The concern would be if there are non-structural changes in Delta that contribute to severity and/or cell replication,” virologist Tom Peacock from Imperial College London wrote on Twitter.
Omicron XE variant
Omicron XE is a combination of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 but with three separate and distinct mutations. It has only been found in Britain to date but the UK Health Security Agency has suggested it could be nearly 10 per cent more transmissible than its parents.
So far, 637 XE cases have been identified in the UK, but the true figure is likely to be much higher as the UK has abolished free tests and reduced testing infrastructure.
Prof Susan Hopkins, the UK Health Security Agency's chief medical adviser, said that so far, little was known about XE.
“There is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about transmissibility, severity or vaccine effectiveness,” she said.
Omicron XF variant
XF is a combination of Delta and BA.1 and has only been found in Britain.
Of the three sublineages, it is of the least concern to scientists, with no cases identified since February 14.
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Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
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Major honours
ARSENAL
BARCELONA
- La Liga - 2013
- Copa del Rey - 2012
- Fifa Club World Cup - 2011
CHELSEA
- Premier League - 2015, 2017
- FA Cup - 2018
- League Cup - 2015
SPAIN
- World Cup - 2010
- European Championship - 2008, 2012
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Mumbai Indians 186-6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 183-5 (20 ovs)
Mumbai Indians won by three runs
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
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The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
Afghanistan fixtures
- v Australia, today
- v Sri Lanka, Tuesday
- v New Zealand, Saturday,
- v South Africa, June 15
- v England, June 18
- v India, June 22
- v Bangladesh, June 24
- v Pakistan, June 29
- v West Indies, July 4
Barcelona 3
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Dubai World Cup nominations
UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer
USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.
Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
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Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
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The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
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