No need to panic: the rise in Covid-19 cases across Europe and North America is nothing like the 2020 wave. In the UK, 1,638 cases were recorded in hospital settings in early October; in France, A&E departments logged a 67% rise in infections between 14 and 20 September. The virus is still circulating actively, but there is no cause for alarm.
Why are we seeing a resurgence of Covid-19 right now?
We're making do with the immunity we have
For several weeks now, Covid-19 has been regaining ground across Europe and North America, journalist Laura Perren noted in New Scientist on 12 October 2026. Six years on from the 2020 peak, this uptick raises questions, even if it's nowhere near a repeat of that era's shock. In the UK, 1,638 cases were detected in hospital settings during the first week of October, up on the previous period.
In France, the figures tell the same story. Between 14 and 20 September, A&E departments recorded a 67% rise in infections among adults compared with the previous week, according to data from Santé publique France. In its bulletin of 7 October, the agency described the virus as being in “active circulation”. The picture is clear, but there's no cause for alarm.
What sets the “Frankenstein” variant apart from its predecessors?
Nicknamed "Frankenstein" by scientists, the XFG variant is now spreading worldwide, New Scientist reports. What sets it apart, first and foremost, is its youth: every variant currently in circulation descends from Omicron, the last officially named strain, which emerged in 2021, whereas Frankenstein is far more recent. First detected in early 2025, it was analysed by the World Health Organization in June 2025. It arose from an exchange of genetic material between two Omicron sub-variants.
This hybrid origin explains its particular profile: the variant binds slightly less efficiently to host cells than its predecessors, but according to New Scientist, it's its knack for dodging antibodies that makes it such a formidable opponent.
Should we worry about severe illness or a wave of hospital admissions?
British health authorities are striking a measured tone. Alexander Allen says there's “no sign” that the current variants are making people more seriously ill or spreading faster. He also points out that “this autumn's vaccine was specifically designed to protect against them”.
Immunologist Danny Altmann, of Imperial College London, offers a more nuanced view. He warns that "this could translate into a slight uptick in hospital admissions". Immunity built up through vaccination and past infections, however, still appears to be holding up against severe disease.
Is vaccination still our best protection today?
Vaccination remains a pillar of protection against Covid-19, as immunologist Danny Altmann confirms: “We're making do with the immunity we have,” he explains. That phrase sums up a simple reality: the protection we have today comes from a build-up of past vaccinations and exposures, not from immunity acquired once and for all.
The flu and Covid-19 vaccination campaign is due to begin on Tuesday 13 October. Danny Altmann also notes that a large proportion of children starting school have never been vaccinated.
Between the vigilance shown by health authorities and the nuance added by immunologist Danny Altmann, one thing is certain: panic isn't warranted. Nothing suggests, in his view, that these variants are making people more seriously ill or spreading faster than before. For you, the wisest approach is probably to follow official guidance without letting this resurgence cause alarm.
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