Follow-Up: Omicron Variant XBB.1.16 Has a New Name—and a Newly Discovered Symptom

Just a few weeks ago, we told you that the recently discovered COVID-19 variant XBB.1.16 has been reported and increasing in prevalence in at least 18 U.S. states and 22 countries. Now the variant has been dubbed Arcturus, and researchers at the Mayo Clinic report that it has a distinctive effect on individuals who are infected compared with other COVID variants: conjunctivitis. Further, according to the COVID Tracker maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arcturus is now responsible for 9.6% of COVID-19 infections in the U.S.