The UK Health Safety Agency reports a 15.7% rise in Covid cases, with concerns over FLiRT and KP.1.1 variants potentially resisting vaccines.

FLiRT variants, specifically KP.1.1 and KP.2, have become dominant in the U.S. and may evade the protection offered by existing vaccines.

KP.2 variant exhibits increased immune evasion due to three changes in its spike protein, despite being less infectious than the JN.1 variant.

The CDC has revised its COVID-19 guidelines, removing the five-day isolation requirement for positive cases and emphasizing general virus spread reduction measures.

With only 22% of American adults fully vaccinated, the high transmissibility of FLiRT variants raises concerns about a possible resurgence of COVID-19.

Scientists are developing a new vaccine, with successful tests in mice, that could protect against multiple coronaviruses and may enter clinical trials by early 2025.