Coronavirus Watch: What to know about the new coronavirus variant, XE

A new variant of the coronavirus has emerged in the U.K., but it’s too soon to know whether it should be cause for concern.

Called XE, the variant is a combination of two earlier versions of omicron, BA.1 and BA.2. Since XE was first identified in early January, it has infected about 600 people in the U.K.

It’s not clear whether XE is more contagious than BA.2 and there is no indication it can cause more severe disease.

Read more from reporter Gabriela Miranda here.

It's Thursday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

• The Biden administration Tuesday announced a major effort to help people with long COVID-19, including providing insurance coverage, expanding support for clinics and enhancing research into the condition.
• The CDC is no longer warning U.S. travelers to avoid trips to Canada as part of its ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 risk in destinations around the globe.
• Attorney General Merrick Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo were among those to disclose positive tests after attending the annual Gridiron Dinner event in Washington, D.C.

See our COVID-19 resource guide here. See total reported cases and deaths here. On vaccinations: About 77% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 66% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

– Cady Stanton, Paste BN Nation NOW reporter, @cady_stanton