Know about the new Covid variant ‘Arcturus’ symptoms and precautions

Covid-19 cases are rapidly increasing across the world. This surge is largely driven by the Arcturus variant, also known as XBB.1.16, which is a subvariant of the Omicron variant.

Arcturus, named after the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere.

Arcturus is an Omicron sub-variant also known as the XBB.1.16 strain, and it has been identified in 22 nations, including Singapore, Australia, the UK, and the US.

The WHO declared XBB.1.16 a “variant under monitoring” in late March saying that it is the most transmissible variant yet.

The Arcturus variant is an Omicron subvariant that carries the ability to spread faster than all the previous strains of the virus. It is similar to the XBB.1.5 variant but has an additional mutation that makes it more contagious.

Symptoms of Arcturus or XBB.1.16 Variant

The symptoms of the Arcturus variant are similar to those of previous strains of COVID-19 and include the following.

Fever, body pain, headache, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, cough, and chest congestion are common symptoms.

Children may experience high fever, cough, and itchy conjunctivitis or pinkeye.

Precautions of Arcturus or XBB.1.16 Variant

Follow COVID protocols such as wearing masks in public spaces and avoiding crowded areas. Maintain good hand hygiene, keep hand sanitizer handy, and get vaccinated if unvaccinated to prevent the spread of the variant.