TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — More than five years after COVID-19 turned our world upside down, we’re still dealing with it. On the brink of flu season, Tampa Bay area hospitals are seeing an increase of cases of COVID-19, fueled by a new variant.

XFG or Stratus is the new strain of COVID. USF College of Public Health professor Jill Roberts said the variant is predictable and is spreading fast.

“Basically, it can stick to your cells better than the other strains and so sometimes COVID comes by and there’s not enough to make us sick. But certain strains, it’s just boom, we get in contact, we get sick,” said Professor Roberts. “The hospitals have more cases. The CDC is seeing more positivity in the wastewaters. My own daughter’s school just sent out a message saying please don’t send your kids to school if you’re sick. So we know that COVID is coming.”

Physicians at HCA Brandon said patients are not being admitted but are being tested and treated in the E.R.

“COVID cases have been increasing over the last few months. We had a 5% positivity rate in May. We’re up to 35% now in mid-August,” said Dr. David Arbona. “We have seen some severe cases. People are not at the point where they need to be incubated for a long period of time, but we have had a lot of patients that have respiratory conditions that have gotten worse because of a concomitant COVID or influenza disease at the same time.”

Dr. Arbona said the symptoms include dry cough, sore throat, and muscle aches.

Doctors said it’s important to practice good hygiene and monitor the symptoms of people in your surroundings.

“If you’re feeling sick and you have mild symptoms and you want to avoid long waits, you can always go to the freestanding E.R. They have shorter turnaround times. They can test you for these diseases. If you have a lot of chronic conditions and your symptoms are more severe, you’re having trouble breathing, then definitely come into one of the E.R.s,” Dr. Arbonda said.

Professor Roberts said it is possible a new vaccine could be required, though it’s unlikely. Dr. Arbona said it’s never too late to get a vaccine and could be beneficial ahead of flu season.