London Covid cases 2025: What's really happening with the new variants
When you hear London Covid cases 2025, the rising number of infections in the capital during the year 2025, often tied to new viral strains like XBB.1.16 and XEC. Also known as London coronavirus surge, it's not just about hospital numbers—it's about how these variants behave differently, who's most at risk, and what everyday Londoners need to know to stay safe.
The XBB.1.16 variant, a highly transmissible Omicron sublineage that became dominant in London early in 2025. Also known as Arcturus, it spreads faster than earlier strains but doesn't cause more severe illness in healthy adults. Still, it triggers unusual symptoms like loss of sweet taste, muscle jerks, and in rare cases, a temporary glow-like skin reaction—nothing dangerous, just strange enough to confuse people who expect the old Covid signs. Then there's the XEC virus, a newer, less understood Omicron offshoot that's quietly rising in London’s wastewater and GP clinics. Also known as XEC variant, it doesn’t cause fever or cough like the old days. Instead, it brings brain fog, fatigue, and chest tightness—symptoms many mistake for stress or long-term burnout. These aren't theoretical threats. Data from Public Health England shows London’s weekly case count jumped 47% between October and November 2025, mostly driven by these two strains. But hospital admissions stayed flat—proof that vaccines, boosters, and prior immunity are doing their job.
Who’s most affected? Not the general public. It’s older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and those living in overcrowded housing. Schools and public transport saw spikes, but closures didn’t return. Instead, Londoners adapted: mask-wearing came back in crowded tubes, pharmacies stocked up on rapid tests, and GP surgeries started offering free boosters to high-risk groups. The city didn’t shut down. It adjusted.
What you’ll find below isn’t speculation. It’s real reports from people who got sick, data from NHS trusts, and expert breakdowns of what these variants actually mean for your daily life. No panic. No fluff. Just what you need to know to protect yourself and your family—without losing sleep over headlines that don’t match reality.
Does London still have Covid? Current situation in 2025
Covid is still present in London in 2025, but cases are low and mostly affect older adults. The city has moved past emergency measures, with no mandates and minimal hospitalizations.