- The JN.1 variant is the most common COVID-19 variant in the U.S. right now.
- People are experiencing mild, cold-like illnesses with COVID-19.
- Severe disease is still happening with the virus.
It’s been nearly five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began and, at this point, you probably have a good sense of the major signs of an infection. But the coronavirus and how people respond to it has changed over time. The COVID-19 symptoms in 2024 do not look the same as they used to for many people.
The rise of the JN.1 variant has also changed things. This COVID variant, which now makes up nearly 62% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., tends to cause milder illness. However, the virus is still serious and deadly for some: Both hospital admissions and deaths from COVID-19 are on the rise in the U.S. right now.
So, what are the most current COVID-19 symptoms in 2024? And what should you look out for? Doctors break it all down.
Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, M.D., is a professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York; Amesh Adalja, M.D., is an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; William Schaffner, M.D., is a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
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Is there a COVID surge right now?
Yes, there is a COVID surge happening right now. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) wastewater surveillance suggests that we’re now in the second-largest COVID-19 surge since the pandemic began.
Currently, hospital admissions are up more than 3% and deaths from the virus are up 14%, per CDC data. “In general, the vast majority of infections are mild—they do not require hospitalization,” says William Schaffner, M.D., a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “It can be very difficult to distinguish that from a common cold or even influenza.” So while some may experience a mild infection, others may not.
What is the newest variant, JN.1?
The JN.1 variant is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. right now. It started as a blip on the CDC’s radar in mid-November and quickly spread.
JN.1 descended from BA.2.86 and is a variant of Omicron, explains Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York. JN.1 has more mutations on its spike protein from its parent strain, Dr. Russo says. (The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is what the virus uses to grab onto your cells and make you sick.)
What are COVID symptoms in 2024?
It’s important to point this out: The CDC has not updated its official list of COVID-19 symptoms since October 2022. Those symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
“COVID-19’s symptoms are generally of the same spectrum that they have always been, with the exception of less frequently reported loss of taste and smell,” says Amesh Adalja, M.D., an infectious disease expert and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
“Overall, COVID-19 tends to look more like a cold, with a sore throat, runny nose, and maybe a fever and aches,” Dr. Russo says. That’s because people have built up immunity to the virus, whether from having a previous infection, getting vaccinated, or both, he says.
Some people are still getting seriously ill with COVID-19 and dying from the virus, though, Dr. Russo points out. Those include at-risk patients, including those who are very young or very old, people who are immunocompromised, pregnant people, and those with underlying lung conditions, he says. “Those people can develop shortness of breath and chest pain, in addition to the other symptoms,” he says.
Do you need the updated COVID vaccine?
The CDC recommends that everyone aged five and up get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. But the uptake of the updated COVID-19 vaccine hasn’t been high—only an estimated 14% of Americans have gotten it. However, doctors say it’s still a good idea to get the vaccine if you’re able. “It’s not too late,” Dr. Russo says.
What are the latest COVID guidelines in 2024?
COVID guidelines haven’t changed much in the past year. If you develop symptoms of the virus, doctors say it’s important to test yourself—especially if you’re at high risk for developing severe disease from COVID-19. “There is no way to tell whether someone has COVID-19 or any other respiratory viral infections except by testing,” Dr. Adalja says.
If you test positive for COVID-19, contact your doctor. “We have medicines that can help prevent milder illness from getting worse,” Dr. Schaffner says. (If you test negative, but feel lousy, he also recommends contacting your doctor—they can test you for the flu, which also has medicine to treat it.)
If you’re positive for COVID-19, the CDC currently recommends that you stay home for at least five days and isolate from other people in your home. You’ll also want to wear a high-quality (KN95 or N95) Face Mask around others through day 10 of your illness.
This article is accurate as of press time. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific community’s understanding of the coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. While we aim to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department to stay informed on the latest news. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
