COVID-19 cases are rising again in the United States, and the "stratus" variant might be to blame. The big picture: A summer outbreak of COVID-19 cases isn't a shocker. But it's arriving before children head back to school,

COVID-19 cases are rising this summer across much of the United States, with 27 states reporting growing or likely growing trends, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of mid-July,

A new COVID-19 variant is climbing the ranks in the United States, becoming the third-most common strain of the summer. Variant XFG, colloquially known as "Stratus," was first detected in Southeast Asia in January but accounted for less than about 0% of cases in the United States until May.

That's the name of the latest COVID-19 strain going around. Variant XFG, colloquially known as "Stratus," was first detected in Southeast Asia in January but accounted for less than about 0% of cases in the United States until May.

Infectious disease experts currently do not think that the variant will be highly contagious, though they have warned that it may be better at avoiding immune responses. What are

The Public Health Center of Ukraine reported results from sequencing COVID-19 pathogens from patients in Poltava Oblast, confirming the virus belongs to the XFG genetic lineage, which is actively spreading worldwide.

The world is once again paying close attention to a new strain of the COVID-19 virus, dubbed Stratus XFG. Public health officials are urging calm but emphasize the need for vigilance as this new variant begins to circulate.