New COVID-19 variant 'Eris' rapidly spreading across the UK

A new COVID-19 variant which has descended from the Omicron sub-variant and was first flagged in the UK last month is said to be spreading quickly in the country, according to the UK Health Security Agency. The variant, which has been nicknamed 'Eris', makes up one in seven new COVID-19 cases. It was classified as a variant on July 31.