Arcturus COVID-19 variant spreads rapidly across US

Arcturus, a new coronavirus subvariant, has been designated as a "variant under monitoring" by the World Health Organization. It is a subvariant of the omicron variant and has been documented in 29 countries so far. While it has one additional mutation in the spike protein that shows increased infectivity, there is no indication yet that it will lead to more severe cases. Arcturus is particularly prevalent in India, where it has sparked a rise in infections and a return to mask mandates in parts of the country. The WHO is monitoring seven variants, including the BA.2 version of omicron seen in many parts of the United States.