Doctors report seeing novel COVID-19 symptoms like profound fatigue and insomnia in March 2026, alongside familiar signs such as sore throats and coughs. The dominant strains circulating are XFG and NB.1.8.1, part of the JN.1 lineage, which are more transmissible but not dramatically different symptomatically from earlier variants. These JN.1-based strains better evade prior immunity, making updated vaccines crucial. While most infections remain mild, progression to severe illness is less common due to widespread immunity.

Prevention hinges on staying current with vaccinations, masking in high-risk settings, and testing if symptoms arise.