Another year is drawing to a close, with another strain of the coronavirus making the rounds.
But this time, medical professionals say it might be harder to distinguish whether you have COVID-19, the flu or the common cold without taking a test.
What Is the Newest COVID-19 Strain?
The latest strain of the virus is XEC, which is a subvariant of the Omicron strain. It differs from other strains because it’s a combination of two preexisting Omicron descendants, Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at the Yale School of Medicine, said in October.
That means the XEC strain is more transmissible than many of its predecessors, but on the upside, the symptoms associated with it will likely be milder, Roberts said.
What Symptoms Are Associated With the XEC Strain?
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the most common symptoms associated with COVID-19 are:
- Cough
- Runny nose or congestion
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Diarrhea
- Loss of taste or smell
- Fever
Many of these symptoms also overlap with cold and flu symptoms, which is why experts say it’s important to take a test to confirm the illness and treat it accordingly.
Where Can I Get a Free COVID-19 Test?
COVID-19 tests are widely available across the U.S. And thanks to a new federal program, Americans can now order test kits to be mailed to their homes for free.
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Every U.S. household is eligible to order four free at-home test kits, according to the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
Kirsten Hokeness, the director of Bryant University’s School of Health and Behavior Sciences, said that even though XEC is more transmissible, a COVID-19 vaccine “will likely confer protection based on its components.”
Because the virus “mutates readily,” she said, it’s important for people 6 months or older routinely get vaccine boosters, according to the university’s news website.
“It takes several weeks for full immunity to mount,” she added. “Fall is a prime time to get the updated vaccine, so you are protected going into the winter months where we see heightened infection.”
Roberts said the latest versions of the Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines should help mitigate the severity of symptoms caused by the XEC strain. He said on Yale Medicine’s website he’s “optimistic that we’re still going to have some degree of protection from both recent infections and updated vaccines.”
There was a 4 percent test positivity rate across the U.S. in the past week, down from 4.4 percent the week before, according to the CDC.
