Arcturus XBB.1.16: hello masks, we’ve missed you so much

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In the UK, experts advise wearing face masks again on public transport due to a new Corona variant called Arcturus. And more countries are taking action. Thus, Thailand begins a new booster campaign.

In India in particular, this variant is common, and in the USA it is clearly on the rise.

The symptoms of Arcturus XBB.1.16 are slightly different from what we are used to. For example, the virus causes red eyes and eye inflammation. Also, people get a higher fever than with previous Corona variants. But no more people end up in hospitals in countries where the virus is already common.

It is ‘not unwise’ for the British to start wearing face masks again, doctors say. The current vaccines do not work so well against Arcturus while the variant is very contagious.