What Are the Symptoms of the Latest COVID-19 Variants in Late 2025?

As of November 2025, the most common COVID-19 variants circulating globally are Stratus (XFG) and Nimbus (NB.1.8.1). These two strains have taken over from earlier versions, making up nearly 92% of all new cases in the U.S. and Europe. Unlike the early days of the pandemic, the symptoms today are different - less about lungs, more about the throat and head. You won’t necessarily feel like you’re fighting for air. But you might feel like you’ve swallowed glass.

What You’re Likely to Feel Right Away

If you’ve caught one of these new variants, your first warning sign is probably a sharp, sudden sore throat. It’s not just a scratchy feeling - it’s a stabbing pain when you swallow, often starting within 24 to 36 hours after exposure. According to clinical data from Stony Brook Medicine, 68% of people infected with the Nimbus variant report this symptom as the first and most intense part of their illness. Even in Stratus cases, about 42% experience it, compared to just 31% with older strains.

That’s why so many people are walking into urgent care clinics thinking they have strep throat. A November 2025 review by the American Medical Association found that 38% of Nimbus cases were initially misdiagnosed as bacterial infections. The difference? No fever at first, no white patches on the tonsils - just pure, unrelenting throat pain that doesn’t improve with throat lozenges.

Other Common Symptoms - The Full Picture

Alongside the sore throat, here’s what else you’re likely to deal with:

• Fever - Around half of cases (47-52%) include a low-grade fever, usually under 101°F (38.3°C).
• Cough - Mild and dry, not deep or chesty. Only 18% report any trouble breathing, down from 35% during Delta.
• Runny or blocked nose - Happens in 81-85% of cases. Think cold season, but faster.
• Headache - Reported by 76% of patients. Often described as a dull, constant pressure behind the eyes.
• Body aches - About two in three people feel like they’ve been hit by a truck, even if they’re otherwise feeling fine.
• Extreme fatigue - This one sticks around. Nearly 9 out of 10 people say they’re wiped out, even after other symptoms fade.
• Loss of appetite - You might not feel hungry, even if your stomach is growling.
• Diarrhea or nausea - Less common, but still happens in about a quarter of cases.

One big change? The loss of taste or smell - once the signature sign of COVID - is now rare. Only 12% of people with Stratus or Nimbus report it. That’s down from 80% in 2020. If you lose your sense of smell now, it’s more likely to be allergies or a bad cold.

How It’s Different From Past Variants

These new strains are smarter, not meaner. They don’t attack the lungs like Delta did. Instead, they stick to the upper airways - nose, throat, sinuses. That’s why hospitalizations are falling. In the UK, admissions dropped to 1.08 per 100,000 people in late November 2025, down from 1.80 the week before. Deaths are even lower.

But here’s the catch: they spread faster. Stratus is dominant because it slips past immunity better than anything we’ve seen since 2021. Vaccine effectiveness against infection has dropped by about 25% compared to last year’s shots. That doesn’t mean vaccines don’t work - they still protect you from serious illness at 85-90%. If you’re up to date with your 2025-2026 booster (targeting XBB.1.5 and JN.1), you’re still in good shape.

What People Are Saying Online

On Reddit’s r/COVID19, a thread titled “Nimbus sore throat is no joke” got over 1,200 responses. Most people wrote about the same thing: waking up with throat pain so bad they couldn’t talk. One user wrote, “I thought I had strep. I went to the clinic. They said it was viral. I cried. It hurt that much.”

GoodRx surveyed nearly 4,000 people who tested positive in November. Of those with Nimbus, 72% said their sore throat was the worst part. But 64% also said, “It was way milder than my Delta infection last year.” Recovery time? Most people feel better in 4-5 days. But fatigue? That lingers. One in four people still feel drained after two or three weeks.

What to Do If You Think You’re Sick

Don’t guess. Test. The FDA approved three new at-home tests in October 2025 that are 92-95% accurate at detecting Stratus and Nimbus. Old tests? They still work, but the new ones are calibrated for these exact variants. If you have symptoms - especially that sharp throat pain - test on day one. Don’t wait.

Isolation rules changed too. The CDC now says: stay home for five days, then wear a mask around others for another five. You’re not contagious after day five in most cases. But if you’re still feverish or feeling awful, keep resting.

For high-risk people - over 65, immunocompromised, or with chronic conditions - talk to your doctor within 24 hours of symptoms. Paxlovid, an antiviral pill, cuts hospitalization risk by 89% if taken within three days of the first symptom. Don’t wait until you’re gasping for air.

Why This Matters Now

We’re not in pandemic mode anymore. But we’re not done with COVID either. These variants are part of a pattern: more transmissible, less deadly, harder to spot. That’s why hospitals now run “respiratory illness clinics” that test for flu, RSV, and COVID all at once. It’s faster. It’s cheaper. And it stops people from getting the wrong treatment.

Workplaces are seeing fewer absences than before - just 1.8% of workers are out due to respiratory illness, down from 3.5% in 2023. But for teachers, nurses, and caregivers, even one sick day can throw things off. That’s why the CDC now recommends keeping a few rapid tests at home, in your bag, or at work.

And if you’re feeling tired for weeks after? You’re not alone. Long COVID still exists, even with mild cases. Support groups have grown - over 3,400 in the U.S. alone. Talking to others who’ve been there helps more than you’d think.

What’s Next?

Two new subvariants - XFG.2 and NB.1.8.1.3 - are showing up in small numbers. So far, they don’t seem to change the symptom picture. But scientists are watching. The WHO says understanding variant-specific symptoms is still a big gap in global tracking. That’s why your report matters. If you test positive, tell your doctor what you felt. That data helps shape the next vaccine.

The NIH has already started testing next-generation vaccines that target parts of the virus that don’t change easily. Phase 1 trials begin in January 2026. The goal? A shot that lasts longer, works against more strains, and doesn’t need updating every six months.

For now, the message is simple: symptoms are milder, but they’re sneakier. Your throat is the alarm bell. Test early. Rest well. Stay up to date on vaccines. And don’t ignore the fatigue - it’s your body’s way of saying it’s still working hard.