New Covid Variant Driving Surge

The Covid variant XFG, also called Stratus, is spreading across the U.S. Since its

first detection in March, it has quickly become dominant, now making up “80 percent of US Covid cases” as of September 9.

High Wastewater Activity

CDC data shows viral wastewater activity is now “high nationally,” with 29 states reporting high or very high levels.

Infections are “growing” or “likely growing” in nine states, including Minnesota, Michigan, and New York.

More Contagious, Not Deadlier

XFG is a hybrid of two Omicron strains with mutations that make it “more contagious than previous variants” but not deadlier. Symptoms remain similar: fever, cough, fatigue, congestion, and loss of taste or smell.

Signs of Slowing

Despite the rise, hospitalizations dropped from “2.5 per 100,000” to 1.5, and test positivity fell from “10.9 percent” to 9.5 percent in the week ending September 13.