August 11, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19
SUMMARY
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing slightly across the District. An increase in community level spread of COVID-19 is expected each summer based on previous local and national trends. Current evidence suggests that though the dominant and novel variants (LP.8.1 and NB.1.8.1) have increased globally, the public health risk is considered low. These new variants do not appear to be any more severe than other circulating strains. The generally observed symptoms of COVID-19 remain 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, and diarrhea. Staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccination and other vaccines can prevent disease and help reduce severity. Wearing a mask and distancing yourself from others when you feel ill can help lower the risk of transmission of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. Seek health care for testing and treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness.
VACCINATIONS
Are the vaccines still effective for the new variants? Yes, the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine formula can prevent COVID-19 disease and help reduce the severity if you get sick. Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it is important to stay up to date. It is especially important to get your 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine if you are aged 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. Please visit Vaccines.gov for more information and to locate a vaccine site near you.
DATA TRENDS
What is the existing data on COVID-19 in the District?
urrent COVID-19 levels in the District are gradually increasing, but trends remain below those observed last summer. Currently, the rate of illness is 14 confirmed positive cases per 100,000 residents per week. This rate does not include people who do not test or who complete at-home testing. DC Health uses wastewater surveillance to assess community levels of COVID-19 viral activity; this level is currently moderate, aligning with national trends. COVID-19 associated hospitalizations remain low with COVID-19 patients composing 0.3% of all hospitalizations in the District. Notably, there have been no deaths from COVID-19 reported in the District since March 2024. This is a good indicator that vaccines work to prevent disease and help reduce the severity.
Wastewater surveillance continues to be a valuable tool in understanding COVID-19 levels in the general population. Wastewater monitoring can detect viruses spreading from one person to another within a community earlier than clinical testing and before people who are sick seek medical care. It can also detect asymptomatic infections. Since late July, a mild increase in COVID-19 activity has been measured in wastewater which closely aligns with clinical data. View current data from wastewater surveillance.
Why does COVID-19 increase in the summer?
Increased summer travel and waning immunity from fall/winter vaccination or illness have historically created increases of COVID-19 in the summer.
How do these variants compare to previous ones?
Current dominant variants (LP.8.1 and NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus)) are part of the Omicron lineage and evolved from a variant known as JN.1, which circulated widely in December 2023. There is limited evidence that suggests the current variants are more transmissible and there is no evidence to suggest they cause more severe disease.1,2 Anecdotally, some individuals who have become ill with the NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus) variant report a severe sore throat. However, it's important to note that a sore throat is a common symptom across various COVID-19 variants, and whether Nimbus causes a more severe sore throat hasn't been definitively proven by scientific studies.
Overall, symptoms remain similar to those of earlier Omicron variants: typically mild, with onset around 2-14 days from exposure. Milder symptoms mean that most people will not experience more severe outcomes, like hospitalization, from these variants. These symptoms may vary by person, but usually present themselves as:3
- 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
TESTING
Are the current self-tests still accurate for the new variants?
Yes, the current self-tests will detect infection with the new variants. When using a self-test, it is important that you follow the FDA’s and the manufacturer’s recommendations. These are commonly found on the test’s packaging.
Where can I find a self-test?
The free testing program through DC Health was discontinued in March 2023. Self-testing kits are available for purchase at drug stores, grocery stores, and other locations throughout the city.
RESPONSE
What can people do to protect themselves?
- Staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 vaccination and other vaccines can prevent disease and help reduce severity. It is especially important to get your COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65 and older, are at high risk for severe COVID-19, or have never received a COVID-19 vaccine.
- Practicing good hygiene including handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces can help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.
- Wearing a mask and distancing yourself from others when you feel ill can help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmission, including COVID-19.
What should I do if I’m feeling sick?
If you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, including COVID-19, you should stay home and away from others until you feel better and have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without medication.
Once both of these are true, you can resume normal activities with added precautions for the next 5 days. These include masks, physical distancing, and steps for increased ventilation when around other people.4
Is there a treatment?
Yes, the FDA has approved several medications to treat COVID-19 in people who are at higher risk of severe illness. These treatments must be prescribed by a health care provider and begun within 5-7 days of symptom onset.
Is the health department doing anything to respond to the surge?
DC Health continues to closely monitor COVID-19 in the District including lab-confirmed cases, hospitalizations, and wastewater surveillance. At present, case rates are lower than we have seen in previous summers.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For more information on COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and data trends, visit the CDC Covid Information page
REFERENCES
- World Health Organization. (2025, February 2). Risk evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring: LP.8.1. https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/risk-evaluation-for-sars-cov-2-variant-under-monitoring-lp81.
- World Health Organization. (2025, May 23). Risk evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 Variant Under Monitoring: NB.1.8.1. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/documents/epp/tracking-sars-cov-2/23052025_nb.1.8.1_ire.pdf
- CDC. (2025, March 10). Symptoms of COVID-19. COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/index.html
- CDC. (2024, March 1). About Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick | Respiratory Illnesses | CDC. www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html
Please contact the DC Health Division of Epidemiology-Disease Surveillance and Investigation at: Phone: 844-493-2652 | Fax: (202) 442-8060 | Email: [email protected]