A Covid modeller says a fourth summer wave is likely as a new variant emerges overseas.

A new covid-19 variant called XEC may spread more easily than past variants, but current vaccines are still effective against it

A new COVID variant, XEC, has arrived just before fall. The new variant has sprouted from the Omicron variant that developed in late 2021. Though XEC is new, Prof Francois Balloux, director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, told the BBC that he would be surprised if it became the dominant variant throughout winter.

Another COVID-19 variant is on the rise this fall, hot on the heels of a massive summer surge of the virus. The variant, called XEC, is appearing worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 virus mutation has also been spotted in at least half of the United States,

Researchers indicate that the vaccine and booster shots should protect against the new variant. Here is what we know about the XEC variant and what you can do to stay healthy.