​New COVID variants, both sub-variants of the Omicron, are in the news currently for driving COVID cases after a short break. EG.5, which is nicknamed Eris, accounts for 17% of the total cases of COVID in the US; the variant is also spreading faster in the UK. Meanwhile, BA.2.86, dubbed as BA.X has been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and put under variant under monitoring list. ​