Wed Dec 17 08:50:00 UTC 2025: NEWS ARTICLE:

New COVID Variant “Stratus” Dominates Cases Nationwide, Symptoms Evolving

[City, State] – A new COVID-19 variant, XFG, nicknamed “Stratus,” is now the dominant strain across the country, accounting for nearly 70% of cases, health officials report. While many infections appear milder, experts warn that COVID-19 remains a potentially serious illness, especially for vulnerable populations.

Infectious disease specialists like Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine emphasize that individual experiences with the virus can vary significantly. “So many infections now are milder, but there are still people being hospitalized with COVID,” says Dr. Schaffner.

Common symptoms being reported with the “Stratus” variant include a sore throat, runny nose, congestion, headache, fatigue, and fever. Many people are experiencing it as a bad cold. However, legacy symptoms like cough, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell are still possible.

“It depends on a combination of how much virus you’re exposed to, what your underlying state of immunity is, and the underlying host—are you a younger, healthier host, an older host, or have underlying health conditions?” Dr. Russo says.

Experts attribute the shift in symptom presentation to several factors, including the emergence of a new variant and increasing immunity levels within the population through vaccination and prior infection.

While cases are widespread, the CDC’s wastewater data indicates that COVID-19 levels are currently high in [States with high cases, as mentioned in the text].

“You’re contagious for the day before you get sick and then most contagious for the next two to three days,” Dr. Schaffner says.

Health officials are urging the public to stay vigilant, recommending vaccination, masking in high-risk situations, and staying away from those who are sick. Despite milder cases being reported, the risks of long COVID still remain and is significantly more than for influenza. “The subsequent consequences of COVID, in terms of long COVID, is much more significant than it is for influenza,” Dr. Russo says.

SUMMARY:

A new COVID-19 variant, “Stratus,” is driving a surge in cases nationwide. Common symptoms now resemble a bad cold, including sore throat, runny nose, and fatigue, though legacy symptoms are still possible. Experts stress that individual experiences vary, but vaccination, masking, and staying away from sick people are recommended to mitigate the risk, especially for vulnerable populations.

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