December 04, 2025

COVID-19 in 2025

COVID-19 in 2025: New Variants, Symptoms, Long COVID & Testing Options

Infection with COVID-19, also called SARS-CoV-2, remains a persistent threat. The virus continues to mutate and produce new variants. In addition to covid, respiratory viruses like flu and RSV continue to circulate. Read more to learn about the new types of covid and how the situation may have changed.

 

New circulating variants of COVID 1

The newest circulating variants under monitoring by the World Health Organization are available here. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors the variants affecting the United States, which currently include:

  • XFG (Stratus)
  • NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus)
  • NW.1
  • LP.8.1
  • LF.7

Recent data suggest that up to 85% of new infections are caused by the Stratus variant.

 

Variable symptoms 2, 3

Symptoms of covid variants may differ slightly from the original infection but are largely the same. Some variants, however, are more contagious and can cause more severe illness.

The most common symptoms of covid are:  

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat
  • Fatigue (feeling very tired)
  • Headache
  • Muscle or body aches

Other possible symptoms include:

  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (sometimes before fever or cough starts)
  • Loss of taste or smell (less common with newer variants)
  • Eye problems like redness, tearing, itching, or pain
  • Skin rashes or changes, which can sometimes be linked to more serious illness

People can become infected even if they are vaccinated or were previously infected. Despite this, staying up to date with your vaccines is important. Covid vaccines can reduce the severity of your infection, which means they can help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. The vaccine can also help protect against long covid.

 

Long covid 4,5

Long covid is defined as a chronic condition that occurs after COVID-19 infection and is present for at least 3 months.

Each time a person is infected with COVID-19, they have a risk of developing long covid.

Fatigue, brain fog, and post-exertional malaise (PEM) are commonly reported symptoms, but more than 200 long covid symptoms have been identified.

Some commonly reported symptoms include:

  • Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
  • Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort
  • Fever
  • Respiratory and heart symptoms, such as chest pain, fast-beating or pounding heart (heart palpitations), difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, or coughing
  • Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
  • Headaches
  • Sleep problems
  • Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
  • Pins-and-needles feelings
  • Change in smell or taste
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Digestive symptoms, such as diarrhea, stomach pain, or constipation
  • Other symptoms like joint or muscle pain, rash, or changes in menstrual cycles

These symptoms and conditions can range from mild to severe, may require comprehensive care, and can even result in a disability.

 

Prevention and Treatment of COVID-193, 6, 7

Although vaccinated people sometimes get infected, staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines significantly lowers the risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, developing long covid, or dying from COVID-19.

Most people recover at home with rest and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from covid, treatments are available that can reduce your risk of hospitalization and death.

 

Treatments work best if started within 5–7 days of the first symptoms. Who is at higher risk:

  • Older adults (especially 65+)
  • People who are not up to date on COVID-19 vaccines
  • People with certain health conditions like lung disease, heart problems, or a weak immune system

Prevention is key:

  • Vaccines are the best way to prevent severe illness and long covid. Stay up to date.
  • Good hygiene and staying home when sick also help prevent spread.
  • For people with weakened immune systems, preventative medications may be available.

 

Testing for COVID-19

At-home testing can be a great choice for patients who have known exposure to covid. Testing that checks for multiple respiratory viruses at the same time is now available, too. Healthcare providers can help patients determine which test is right for them.

For patients who don’t know the cause of their symptoms, or who want to be sure, testing through HNL Lab Tests Direct could be a good option. No doctor’s order or insurance is required. HNL Lab Tests Direct also offers a more comprehensive test to check for multiple common respiratory viruses.

Choose HNL Lab Medicine

Seasonal respiratory viruses can be contagious and dangerous, but HNL Lab Medicine makes it easy to stay protected. Our convenient, reliable testing options let you check for COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses without a doctor’s order or insurance. Choose from single-virus tests or panels that check for multiple viruses, with fast, accurate results so you can take action quickly.

Early testing is especially important for older adults, people with health conditions, or a weakened immune system. Visit HNL Lab Tests Direct today to order your test, stay informed, and protect yourself and your loved ones.

 

 
REFERENCES

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, August 28). Variants and genomic surveillance. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/php/variants/variants-and-genomic-surveillance.html .
² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, June 14). Clinical presentation. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/hcp/clinical-care/covid19-presentation.html.
³ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, June 11). Benefits of getting vaccinated. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/benefits.html.
4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, July 24). Long covid basics. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/long-covid/about/index.html.
5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, July 24). Long covid signs and symptoms. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/long-covid/signs-symptoms/index.html.
6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, March 10). How to protect yourself and others. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/prevention/index.html.
7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, May 08). Types of COVID-19 treatment. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/treatment/index.html.