The U.S. is experiencing a summer season surge of COVID circumstances with emergency room visits and deaths from the virus all growing.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 loss of life attributable to COVID was up 14.3% in current 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.Specialists attribute the upswing to a progress in FLiRT variants, which embrace 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 mutation and typically 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 immune to therapies or vaccines. Because the virus spreads, it could 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 critical sickness, there does seem like one symptom that’s the most typical. Sore throats are reported by extra individuals who check constructive for FLiRT variants.“Sadly one of the crucial widespread COVID signs at present appears to be a sore throat with or with out a gentle 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.”Different 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 individuals isolate till their signs are bettering and fever is gone with out using treatment for at the very least 24 hours. After that, it’s beneficial individuals take additional precautions for the following 5 days.