A new Covid variant FLiRT has arrived in Ireland – how worried should we be?

The concern in various countries is that the new variant could lead to a summer surge in cases

Scientists are monitoring the growth of the new FLiRT Covid variant. Stock image

Eilish O'Regan

A new Covid variant – nicknamed FLiRT – has quietly arrived in Ireland, but it is quickly gaining ground and now accounts for around one-third of the cases of the virus picked up here.

The pandemic has spawned a multitude of variants since 2020 – from the very dangerous to the mild. So how worried should be be about this latest mutation?

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