The U.S. is experiencing a summer season surge of COVID circumstances with emergency room visits and deaths from the virus all rising.The most recent figures from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention present emergency room visits elevated greater than 23% from June 16 to June 22 and demise attributable to COVID was up 14.3% in latest weeks. The p.c of all U.S. deaths from COVID stays low, nevertheless, at 0.8%, and all indicators stay far beneath previous surges.Consultants attribute the upswing to a development in FLiRT variants, which embody KP.3, KP.2 and KP.1.1 or any others beginning with KP or JN. FLiRT variants, all a part of the omicron line, are the dominant variants throughout the U.S. with two – KP.3 and KP.2 – accounting for greater than 50% of all present circumstances.Such mutations are to be anticipated, the CDC identified.“Viruses continually change by means of mutation and generally these mutations end in a brand new variant of the virus. Some adjustments and mutations permit the virus to unfold extra simply or make it proof against remedies or vaccines. Because the virus spreads, it might change and grow to be tougher to cease,” the company mentioned on its web site.What’s the No. 1 symptom?Whereas FLiRT variants don’t seem to trigger extra severe sickness, there does seem like one symptom that’s the most typical. Sore throats are reported by extra individuals who check optimistic for FLiRT variants.“Sadly one of the widespread COVID signs at present appears to be a sore throat with or with out a delicate fever,” infectious illness specialist Dr. Andreas M. Kogelnik, MD, PhD., instructed Parade. “I say sadly as a result of—after all—a sore throat might be attributed to many various causes.”RELATED ARTICLES•al.comOther COVID signs are much like these reported with earlier variants:Physique achesChillsCongestionCoughFatigueFeverHeadacheCongestion or runny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrheaNew lack of style or smellCurrent CDC steerage recommends folks isolate till their signs are enhancing and fever is gone with out using remedy for at the very least 24 hours. After that, it’s advisable folks take additional precautions for the following 5 days.