In the United Kingdom, testing positivity has climbed from approximately 7.6 percent to 8.4 percent, while hospital admissions, though not yet overwhelming, have shown a clear upward trajectory. In the United States, wastewater surveillance—a tool that captures viral spread beyond those seeking testing—has revealed moderate transmission nationwide, with several states reporting very high concentrations of viral genetic material. These indicators suggest that community transmission is more widespread than clinical case numbers alone may reveal.
One of the most striking aspects of this wave is the nature of the symptoms reported by patients infected with Stratus and Nimbus. While familiar Covid-19 signs such as fever, cough, fatigue, and congestion remain common, many individuals are describing symptoms that feel more intense or unusual compared to earlier Omicron subvariants. A croaky or hoarse voice and an exceptionally painful sore throat have emerged as defining features in many cases. Patients often describe the throat pain as severe, sometimes likening it to the sensation of razor blades, a description that has drawn attention from clinicians.
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