These COVID-19 variants are spreading across SC. What are symptoms? Are there vaccines available?
COVID-19 cases continue to persist as South Carolinians settle into their fall routines of work, school and other day-to-day activities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that as of Sept. 2, COVID-19 infections are growing in 24 states, declining in 15 states and not changing in seven states.
South Carolina’s infection rates have not changed since the last report from Aug. 16, when there were roughly 244 positive COVID-19 cases in the state.
But, as of Sept. 5, the CDC said that the weekly percentage of emergency department visits for COVID-19 is moderately increasing in South Carolina, with 2.7% of visits accounting for COVID-19 cases.
Nationally, there is a positive test rate of 10.8%, up 0.9% from the last report.
What variants of COVID-19 are active now?
As of Aug. 30, CDC variant tracker estimates show that variant XFG was the most common, accounting for 78% of cases, with NB.1.8.1 being the second most common, totaling 14% of cases.
Both are strains of the Omicron variant that was first identified in 2021.
Wastewater is playing a role in South Carolina’s COVID-19 rates, too, as wastewater concentration tracking is one of the ways the CDC determines if a virus is still active.
The Palmetto State is one of the few states reporting very high concentrations. The CDC states that there are 18 sites in South Carolina reporting concentrations.
Seasonal outlook
Since 2020, COVID-19 cases have risen in mid-to-late summer because of a mix of warm weather, human behavior patterns and an easily mutating virus, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
COVID-19 circulates year-round and is known to peak twice a year, once in the winter and again in late summer. RSV and flu tend to be most active between December and February.
The CDC states that it “expects the upcoming fall and winter respiratory disease season in the United States will likely have a similar number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza and RSV compared to last season.”
If you feel sick
The CDC states that if you feel sick, the best practice is to stay home and distance yourself from others. Symptoms to look out for include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
- Sore throat, congestion or runny nose
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fatigue, muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
To differentiate what virus you may have, the CDC says that taking a test is the only way to confirm a diagnosis.
What about vaccines?
On Aug. 27, the Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming 2025-2026 season for some Americans.
“FDA has now issued marketing authorization for those at higher risk: Moderna (six-plus months), Pfizer (five-plus), and Novavax (12-plus). These vaccines are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote in a post on X.
Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines are approved for people who are 65 and older. Patients under 65 who want the vaccine must be high-risk individuals with at least one health condition that makes them vulnerable to severe COVID-19, like asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity or depression.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, slated to meet on Sept. 18, is expected to provide guidance on the updated recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines and provide clarification for people who do not meet the new FDA criteria. This meeting allows submissions for public comment, click here for more information.
This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 5:30 AM.
