A new fast spreading Covid variant has been reported in several holiday hotspots that are popular with UK tourists.
As of now, the three destinations have not updated Covid guidelines, but travellers can help reduce the spread of infection by practising proper hygiene and wearing masks in public settings. Experts say that while the variant has shown "increased prevalence" it remains a low risk to public health. A WHO spokesman said: "Globally, there has been a steady increase in the proportion of EG.5 reported. During epidemiological week 29 , the global prevalence of EG.5 was 17.4 per cent.
THE WHO has said that the public health risk posed by ERIS is evaluated as low. They added: "While EG.5 has shown increased prevalence, growth advantage, and immune escape properties, there have been no reported changes in disease severity to date.