"Arcturus: The Emerging COVID Variant with New Symptoms"

The World Health Organization has identified the new COVID-19 variant, XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, as a variant of interest. The variant has a mutation that makes it more transmissible, but it is not causing more severe disease. A new symptom associated with the variant is conjunctivitis, or pink eye, which is happening in both children and adults. People experiencing symptoms should not write them off as allergies and should get tested for COVID-19. Vaccines and boosters are recommended for protection against the variant.