New COVID-19 variant XEC spreads in US and UK as symptoms to watch for include cough and fever

As new COVID-19 variants emerge in 2025, recognizing symptoms is important. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and loss of taste or smell. Free rapid tests are available to help identify the illness. The CDC notes that while symptoms may vary, they have not linked specific symptoms to specific variants. Individuals may experience different symptoms with each infection. Testing is recommended to distinguish COVID-19 from other illnesses like flu and RSV. The new XEC variant, a subvariant of Omicron, is spreading quickly in the US and UK. Coughing is a common symptom associated with this variant. Those experiencing symptoms should isolate and seek medical advice.