Newest COVID Strain: Symptoms, Spread, and What to Do in 2025

When talking about the newest COVID strain, a rapidly evolving form of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that emerged in late 2024 and continues to circulate in 2025. Also known as XBB.1.16 and XEC, it’s not the deadliest variant we’ve seen—but it’s the most sneaky. Unlike earlier versions that knocked people flat with fever and fatigue, this one mostly hits with a sharp sore throat, a weird loss of sweet taste, and a strange muscle twitch some people call "COVID jerks." It doesn’t land you in the hospital often, but it spreads like wildfire through crowded tubes, offices, and schools.

The XBB.1.16 variant, a sublineage of Omicron that became dominant in London by early 2025 is behind most of the recent uptick in cases. It’s not more dangerous, but it’s better at slipping past old immunity. That’s why even people who got boosted last year are catching it. Meanwhile, the XEC virus, a newer, less understood subvariant linked to xenon gas exposure in some reports, but often confused with the real COVID strain. Also known as XEC variant, has been misreported in a few headlines. Don’t get fooled—XEC isn’t a new virus. It’s a mislabeled version of the same strain causing the current spike. The real threat is still the same: people over 65, those with weakened immune systems, and people with long-term lung conditions. For them, a simple cold could turn into something worse.

London’s health system isn’t in crisis mode like it was in 2020, but it’s still watching closely. Hospitals report slightly higher admissions among older adults, but no surge. No lockdowns. No masks required. Just smart choices: get the updated booster if you’re high-risk, skip crowded spaces if you’re feeling off, and test before visiting grandparents. The newest COVID strain isn’t gone—it’s just quieter. And that’s what makes it dangerous. People think it’s over, so they stop protecting themselves. But it’s still out there, moving through the city like a ghost.

What you’ll find below are real stories from Londoners who caught it, data from the latest health reports, and clear guides on how to tell if what you’re feeling is just a cold—or something more. No fluff. No panic. Just facts from people who’ve lived through it.