CDC wastewater also shows the XFG variant — nicknamed stratus — is most common in the U.S. Stratus can cause a “razor blade” sore throat and is considered a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization. The WHO said the variant is only marginally better at evading people's immune systems and vaccines still work against it.

Beach trips and heat waves aren’t the only things rising this summer. COVID-19 signals are climbing nationwide, and two Omicron offshoots appear to be leading the charge. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday,