If you’re feeling nervous about getting COVID-19 right now, you’re not alone. Many people online have been saying that their latest infections feel more intense than before. Some describe extremely sharp sore throats, high fevers, and chills that make them feel worse than in past rounds of COVID. Naturally, this can sound alarming, especially since cases are still fairly high in different parts of the country. Nobody wants to think that the virus might be getting stronger or more dangerous again.
Doctors, however, are reassuring the public that the current strains are not causing more severe illness across the board. The version spreading the most in the U.S. right now is called Stratus, or XFG, which belongs to the Omicron family of variants. Omicron strains have a pattern: they spread quickly and easily from person to person, but they generally do not cause the same level of severe illness as earlier versions of the virus did, like the original strain or Delta. Those earlier waves were linked to more hospitalizations, more ICU stays, and even more deaths. Doctors emphasize that we are not seeing that same pattern now.
One reason why the situation looks different today is because so many people have at least some level of immunity. Between vaccinations and past infections, the population as a whole has more defenses than in the early days of the pandemic. As a result, while many people are catching COVID again, the majority are not ending up in the hospital. In fact, doctors say the number of severe cases remains low and stable.
That doesn’t mean your own personal experience can’t feel worse than a past infection. Each time someone gets COVID, their body may respond differently. Some people are reporting very painful sore throats this season, often describing the sensation as if they were swallowing glass or razor blades. This symptom has always been part of COVID, but for some people right now, it seems especially intense. Even so, that doesn’t mean the virus itself is more dangerous; it’s just a reminder that symptoms can vary widely from one person to another.
The set of symptoms linked to COVID today is still very familiar. People may experience cough, sore throat, congestion, fever, body aches, and chills. In many ways, it can feel like a bad flu or cold, and that overlap makes it harder to know what you have without testing.
Vaccination continues to be one of the best ways to avoid the worst outcomes. Staying up to date on your shots lowers the risk of hospitalization, severe disease, and long COVID. The guidelines for who should get the latest booster are a little more limited now compared to last year. The newest shot is recommended mainly for adults over 65 and for younger people who already have health conditions that could make them more vulnerable. If you are unsure whether you should get one, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor or ask a pharmacist who is up to date on your state’s rules.
Besides COVID shots, it’s also the right time to think about your flu shot. Since flu season overlaps with COVID season, getting vaccinated for both helps protect you and those around you from two major respiratory illnesses.
If you do start feeling unwell, testing is important because it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between COVID, the flu, RSV, and a common cold just from symptoms. If your test comes back positive for COVID, antiviral medications are available and can help reduce the severity of your illness. Even if you have a mild case, it’s important to isolate so you don’t pass the virus on to others. What feels mild to you could be very serious for someone more vulnerable, such as older adults, young children, or people with underlying health conditions.
On top of vaccines and treatments, the simple steps we’ve heard about since the start of the pandemic are still useful. Washing your hands regularly, making sure you spend time in well-ventilated spaces, avoiding close contact in crowded areas, and wearing a high-quality mask like an N95 in busy indoor places can all reduce your risk of getting sick. These measures may feel old by now, but they continue to make a difference, especially when cases are climbing.
Would you like me to make this even more conversational, almost like a friend explaining it to another friend, or keep it in this slightly more detailed but straightforward style?
