The U.S. is experiencing a summer time surge of COVID circumstances with emergency room visits and deaths from the virus all rising.The newest figures from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention present emergency room visits elevated greater than 23% from June 16 to June 22 and dying attributable to COVID was up 14.3% in latest weeks. The % of all U.S. deaths from COVID stays low, nevertheless, at 0.8%, and all indicators stay far under previous surges.RELATED: COVID is climbing within the U.S. What about Michigan? Specialists 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 way of mutation and generally these mutations lead to a brand new variant of the virus. Some adjustments and mutations permit the virus to unfold extra simply or make it immune to therapies or vaccines. Because the virus spreads, it could change and turn into more durable to cease,” the company stated on its web site.What’s the No. 1 symptom?Whereas FLiRT variants don’t seem to trigger extra critical sickness, there does look like one symptom that’s the commonest. Sore throats are reported by extra individuals who check optimistic for FLiRT variants.“Sadly one of the crucial frequent COVID signs at present appears to be a sore throat with or and not using a delicate fever,” infectious illness specialist Dr. Andreas M. Kogelnik, MD, PhD., advised Parade. “I say sadly as a result of—in fact—a sore throat may be attributed to many various causes.”Different COVID signs are just like these reported with earlier variants:Physique achesChillsCongestionCoughFatigueFeverHeadacheCongestion or runny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrheaNew lack of style or smellCurrent CDC steering recommends individuals isolate till their signs are bettering and fever is gone with out the usage of treatment for no less than 24 hours. After that, it’s advisable individuals take additional precautions for the subsequent 5 days.