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Just days before the start of the school year, southern Florida is experiencing a notable increase in COVID-19 cases.
State health data indicates that positive cases in Miami-Dade and Broward counties increased by more than 50% from June to July, a trend that raises alarms in homes and schools, according to Local 10.
“It is spreading like any other cold or flu, and patients are arriving in the middle of summer with cold and flu symptoms that, again, are simply out of cold and flu season. We are seeing that many more people are testing positive for that [COVID] test,” said Dr. Adam Rubin, medical director of Memorial Regional Hospital.
What is happening?
The surge coincides with the circulation of new variants of the virus in the United States and other regions of the world, including Latin America and the Caribbean.
Detected for the first time in January 2025 in Southeast Asia, the XFG variant, or “Stratus”, has rapidly gained ground and is now among the three most common variants in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) considers the global risk of this variant to remain low, its spread has triggered alerts in several health systems.
"Stratus" is characterized by mutations that may partially evade immune protection.
It has not been proven to be more contagious or severe than other variants, but authorities warn that its ability to evade immunity may complicate control efforts.
In June, health authorities in the United States issued a warning about the rapid spread of the subvariant NB.1.8.1, commonly referred to as "Nimbus."
Derived from omicron, it raises concern due to its high transmissibility and a particularly painful symptom: an intense sore throat described as if swallowing blades, earning it the nickname “blade throat.”
This subvariant was first detected in the U.S. in late March during routine screenings at airports, and since then it has been identified in more than a dozen states, currently accounting for over a third of recent cases in the country.
Implications for the return to classes
The increase in diagnoses during the height of summer coincides with families preparing for the return to school.
For school administrators and parents, the challenge will be to minimize disruptions due to absences and isolations, especially if symptoms—such as severe throat pain associated with "Nimbus"—become more frequent among children and educational staff.
The recommendations remain anchored in common-sense measures to combat respiratory illnesses. As specialists remind us:
- Get tested if you're not feeling well.
- Try to stay away from sick people.
Vaccination provides greater protection against contracting COVID and experiencing severe symptoms.
These guidelines, along with careful monitoring of symptoms and early consultation with healthcare professionals, can help reduce infections and protect families during the start of the school year.
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