COVID-19 Symptoms and Trends Update - August 26 2025

Los Angeles, CA - COVID-19 cases are climbing once again nationwide, driven largely by the Omicron subvariant XFG, nicknamed “Stratus,” though symptoms remain largely unchanged from previous strains.

Health officials in California report that concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater have risen notably over the past month, with Los Angeles County’s test positivity rate increasing to 12.6 percent for the week ending August 16, up from 7.6 percent a month earlier. In Orange County, positivity climbed from 8.1 percent to 14.4 percent over the same period. Hospitalizations and emergency department visits, while still below peak levels seen in 2024, are trending upward, particularly among senior-age residents.

Despite the uptick in cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the common symptoms of COVID-19 remain consistent across variants. Individuals with COVID-19 may experience:

• Fever or chills
• Cough (often dry)
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• New loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

The CDC urges anyone exhibiting these symptoms to stay home, seek testing, and consult a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen or they have risk factors for severe disease. Vaccination remains the primary defense: updated boosters are recommended for adults aged 65 and older, immunocompromised persons, pregnant individuals, and children aged 6 months to 23 months. For those eligible, obtaining the latest COVID-19 vaccine as soon as supplies are available is strongly advised.