Doctors Say COVID Symptoms Are Changing—Here’s What to Watch for With the New Variant

A newer COVID variant called XFG is currently fueling cases of the virus across the country.

Nicknamed “Stratus,” this variant first took hold over the summer and now makes up nearly 70% of COVID-19 cases in the country.

As the virus evolves, some signs you’re sick might too. So, what are COVID-19 symptoms in 2025?

While some liken it to the common cold, COVID-19 is still a lethal disease, and certain groups are still at a higher risk of a more severe form of the virus.

But many people are experiencing an uncomfortable illness with symptoms that are slightly different from what having COVID-19 used to feel like.

Infectious disease doctors stress that every person’s experience with the virus is different. “So many infections now are milder, but there are still people being hospitalized with COVID,” says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Continue Your, Reading. .