COVID-19 Variant XBB.1.5 Is Gaining Traction. What You Need to Know Right Now.

The newest COVID-19 variant, XBB.1.5, is so contagious experts say that people who haven’t had COVID will likely catch it – and many will get reinfected.

The newer boosters, which take aim at both the original virus and the BA.4/BA.5 variants common this summer, are more protective against XBB.1.5 than earlier boosters.

Symptoms with XBB.1.5 are the same as with earlier variants–fever, sore throat, muscle aches, exhaustion, nausea, cough and sinus congestion–and can range from almost nothing to shortness of breath and low oxygen levels that require emergency medical attention.

Read more on concerns across the country here.  North Carolina is seeing slight increases in cases and deaths from COVID-19 as well.  Look at the latest from NCDHHS here.