COVID-19 in Autumn 2026: What's Circulating and How to Spot It
If you've had a run of sore throats, headaches and that heavy, run-down feeling this month, you're not imagining it - COVID-19 is very much still with us, and it's worth knowing what to look out for as the weather turns.
What's currently circulating
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the most common current variants remain XFG and NB.1.8.1, sometimes referred to in the media as the Stratus and Nimbus variants, and current data does not indicate that these lead to more severe illness than other variants in circulation. UK Health Security Agency
The reassuring headline is that none of the currently monitored variants appear to be causing more severe disease than we've seen before — but transmissibility remains high, which is why cases tend to rise as we head into the colder months.
The symptom to know: "razor-blade throat"
One symptom in particular has been getting attention this season. UKHSA notes that some people report a hoarse voice or a particularly painful sore throat associated with the latest variants - something that's been nicknamed "razor-blade throat" in the media.
Beyond this, the general symptom picture hasn't changed dramatically from previous waves. You may notice:
A sore or scratchy throat, sometimes sharp or severe on swallowing
Fatigue and a general "washed out" feeling, occasionally with brain fog that lingers for a week or so after other symptoms clear
Headache, often with sinus pressure or a feeling of pressure behind the eyes
Cough, congestion and a runny nose
Fever, chills and body aches
One thing that's worth noting: the classic early-pandemic signs of losing your sense of taste or smell are far less common with current variants. If you're feeling generally unwell with cold or flu-like symptoms, it's now genuinely hard to tell COVID-19 apart from flu or a heavy cold on symptoms alone - testing is the only reliable way to know.
Telling COVID, flu and colds apart
Flu, RSV and COVID-19 all circulate together over autumn and winter and share many of the same symptoms, and they can reach high levels simultaneously in winter.
If you're unwell, the safest approach is to assume you could be infectious with something, rather than trying to self-diagnose which virus it is.
For most healthy adults, current variants tend to cause an illness similar to a bad cold or moderate flu that resolves within a week or two.
COVID-19 remains a more serious risk for:
People aged 75 and over
Those living in care homes for older adults
People with chronic heart, lung or kidney conditions
Anyone who is immunosuppressed or otherwise clinically vulnerable
If you fall into one of these groups and develop symptoms, it's worth testing early and seeking medical advice promptly - antiviral treatments are most effective when started soon after symptoms begin.
Sources: UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA); European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).