In 2020, COVID-19 redefined global health infrastructure, travel norms and daily habits. Today, even though most of the world is back to business as usual, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that triggered a global pandemic still remains silently persistent. With new data emerging in 2025, it's obvious that even if the severity of the virus had reduced for most, its mutation keeps impacting populations in new and complex ways.

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So, what is COVID in 2025 like? From nuanced changes in patterns of symptoms to news on vaccine immunity and AI-driven virus forecasting, here's a closer look at the latest direction of COVID and its continued influence.

While hospitalizations and COVID-19 deaths have significantly slowed from pandemic highs, the virus is hardly gone. In Australia alone, there were 58,000 cases of COVID so far in 2025, though experts say the real numbers are much greater, given decreasing testing and underreporting.

Sentinel surveillance statistics by FluCan, a network of 14 hospitals, reported 781 hospitalizations due to COVID complication in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Another 289 deaths due to respiratory infections caused by COVID happened in the first two months of the year. These statistics point out that, although COVID seems less formidable now, it is still a critical healthcare issue for some sections of the population.

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Who Is Still at Risk of Severe COVID?

Currently, the vast majority of individuals who develop COVID have a mild, self-limiting illness. Nonetheless, the following groups are still at risk:

• Older adults, especially those over the age of 70
• Immunocompromised persons, including cancer patients
• Individuals with chronic disease, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• Socially disadvantaged populations, including those experiencing homelessness

Social disparities persist to influence health outcomes. In the UK, residents of the most deprived neighborhoods are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital with infectious diseases as those in better-off neighborhoods.

Unique Symptoms of New COVID

The typical COVID symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, and shortness of breath — remain among the most frequently reported. Yet, newer strains have brought back some distinct symptom trends:

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Early in the pandemic, anosmia, or the acute loss of taste or smell, was one of COVID's defining symptoms. The symptom was less frequent with Omicron, but a recent report from a French study indicates a return of anosmia in infections involving the JN.1 variant.

Anosmia is now more variant-specific, so it is a key symptom to monitor for new variants.

One of the key distinguishing factors between COVID and other respiratory diseases such as pneumonia or the flu is the lingering of symptoms, a condition now commonly known as Long COVID.

Scientists at the University of Texas matched patient data between COVID, influenza, and pneumonia. The analysis concluded that symptoms of COVID lasted longer and differed in intensity and nature. Brain fog, breathlessness, and fatigue were the most likely of the symptoms to linger months post-infection. Of interest, these post-viral symptoms appeared more frequently among the unvaccinated.

How Long Does COVID Last in 2025?

For the majority of healthy patients with mild to moderate illness, COVID symptoms disappear in 7 to 10 days. Individuals can, however, be infectious from 48 hours prior to symptom onset until around 10 days after infection.

Notably, symptom duration and recovery vary depending on various factors:

Infection severity: Severe infections may have weeks- or months-long symptoms

Vaccination status: Those who are vaccinated tend to recover more quickly and experience fewer ongoing symptoms

Past history of infection: Future infections are shorter and less symptomatic

A UK study of 5,000 healthcare workers found that fatigue fell progressively with each reinfection — 17.3% after the first, 12.8% after the second, and only 10.8% after the third.

Why Testing Still Matters Even in 2025?

COVID testing continues to be an important tool, particularly in symptomatic people, those with recent contact, or who are high-risk groups. Rapid antigen tests (RATs) are easily accessible, yet a negative RAT is not necessarily conclusive of non-infection — especially in the early phase.

Confirmatory PCR testing is still the gold standard for reliable detection and is advised in individuals who are looking for early medical intervention, particularly in the immunocompromised.

While isolation is no longer required in most areas, public health recommendations include staying home when sick and wearing a well-fitting mask when out in public.

Is Vaccination Still The Most Effective Shield?

COVID vaccines remain effective against severe illness and symptomatic infection. Recent European data (awaiting peer review) indicate that vaccines were 66% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID this winter.

2025 vaccination recommendations are:

• Adults 65–74: Boosters every 12 months

• Adults 75 and older: Boosters every 6 months

• High-risk adults (18+): Eligible for a booster every 6 months

• A wide-ranging overview of more than 4,300 studies determined that fully vaccinated individuals were 27% less likely to develop long COVID than unvaccinated individuals.

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AI in COVID Testing

As SARS-CoV-2 evolves through mutations, keeping vaccines effective is a moving target. Come forward EVE-Vax, a sophisticated AI system that computer-generates viral proteins that may be able to bypass immune defenses.

Unlike other approaches that respond to current variants, EVE-Vax anticipates ahead of time how the virus could change. By modeling possible future mutations, this technology could transform the way vaccines and treatments are designed — not only for COVID but for other fast-changing viruses such as influenza and HIV.

Is COVID in 2025 Different?

Though the immediate global crisis is over, COVID-19 in 2025 is an evolving public health concern. While the majority of cases are mild, the virus still presents severe threats to at-risk populations, and long-term complications are increasingly understood.

Public health measures now need to walk a tightrope between caution and flexibility — incorporating technological innovation such as AI modeling and continuing global vaccination programs to pre-empt future surges. The virus has evolved, our response must also evolve.

Cancer Postcode Lottery will soon be put to an end by the UK Government. Reports say that it will enable the rural population access to cancer specialists and treatments. Before getting into how it will help the rural population and people living in coastal areas to find it easier to see a cancer doctor, let us first understand what postcode lottery means.

What Is Cancer Postcode Lottery?

The term cancer postcode lottery refers to a situation where a cancer patient’s access to the latest and most effective treatments depends on where they live or which hospital they are treated at, rather than purely on medical need.

Based on the information you shared, senior cancer doctors in England are warning that this is happening because of bureaucratic hurdles within the NHS. Even though cancer care is supposed to be equitable across the country, in practice, not all hospitals can easily offer the same treatments.

How Does This Postcode Lotter Work?

Doctors say that some cutting-edge cancer treatments such as advanced radiotherapy techniques and newer immunotherapy drugs require separate funding approvals. Individual cancer centers often have to apply to NHS England for permission and money to use these treatments.

Larger, better-funded hospitals with more administrative resources are often able to navigate this complex system more easily. Smaller or less well-resourced units may struggle, meaning patients treated there may not get access to the same options.

For instance, Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR). SABR is a highly precise form of radiotherapy that delivers strong radiation doses directly to small tumors in areas such as the lungs, liver, brain and lymph nodes. Although SABR is a well-established treatment and can be life-saving for certain patients, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) says some cancer units still have to apply for special funding to use it. This leads to situations where a patient in one area can receive SABR, while another patient with the same cancer elsewhere cannot.

What Is The Government Planning To Do With Postcode Lottery?

As per the official website of UK Government, this will allow people "living in rural and coastal communities will find it easier to see a cancer specialist as part of plans to tackle the current postcode lottery."

The website notes that most deprived parts of the country have fewer cancer consultants, which leaves patients waiting longer for essential care. These same areas also face highest economic inactivity, with long waits for diagnosis and treatment keeping people out of work and holding back local economies. This is why the government is now introducing "new training places targeted at trusts with biggest workforce gaps, prioritising rural and coastal areas".

Working with the Royal Colleges, the government will encourage more doctors to train in clinical and medical oncology to increase the number of cancer specialists in underserved areas.

These steps will be outlined in the upcoming National Cancer Plan, which aims to speed up diagnosis and treatment, reduce inequalities, and support the goal of making England a global leader in cancer survival, while building a future-ready NHS.

A treatment already popular in the US for skin care, pain relief, and faster healing may soon be known for something far more serious. A new study suggests red light therapy could help protect football players’ brains from chronic inflammation caused by repeated hits to the head.

Experts say the findings are early but promising, especially in the ongoing search for ways to reduce long term brain damage in contact sports.

What Is CTE?

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries. It is commonly found in former football players, boxers, and military personnel exposed to blast injuries. Over time, the condition can cause memory loss, confusion, mood changes, aggression, and eventually problems with movement, speech, swallowing, and breathing. There is currently no cure, and doctors still do not know how to slow its progression.

Why inflammation matters in CTE

For now, the only proven way to lower CTE risk is to reduce repeated brain trauma through better helmets, rule changes, and fewer hits to the head. But with more than 100 former NFL players diagnosed with CTE after death and many more suspected cases, experts agree that prevention tools alone are not enough.

Researchers believe chronic inflammation in the brain plays a major role in how CTE develops and worsens over time. If that inflammation can be reduced early, it could potentially limit long term damage.

Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, has already been shown to reduce inflammation in other parts of the body. It works by stimulating energy production inside cells and improving blood flow, which helps tissues repair and recover.

Inside the football study

To see whether the therapy could help the brain, researchers at the University of Utah Health studied 26 collegiate football players during a full season. Half received active red light therapy using a light emitting headset and a small device placed inside the nose. The other half used an identical looking device that did not emit light.

Players completed three 20 minute sessions each week over 16 weeks. Brain scans were taken before and after the season.

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The results were striking. MRI scans showed that players in the placebo group experienced a significant increase in brain inflammation by the end of the season. In contrast, those using red light therapy showed little to no increase, with protection seen across most brain regions.

Why experts are paying attention

Specialists who reviewed the findings say the results align with what scientists already understand about inflammation and brain injury. Reducing the inflammatory response after repeated impacts could help limit the damage that builds up over time.

Another advantage is that the therapy is non invasive and does not involve medication. Most users report no major side effects, which makes it especially appealing for athletes.

That said, experts caution against buying over the counter red light devices. The therapy requires very specific wavelengths that can penetrate skin and tissue effectively. Many consumer products do not meet those standards.

Researchers stress that more studies are needed to confirm long term safety and effectiveness. A large Department of Defense funded trial is already planned, involving 300 people with persistent concussion or traumatic brain injury symptoms, including veterans and first responders.

If future research continues to show benefits without harm, red light therapy could one day become part of how teams protect athletes’ brains, not just in football, but across many sports.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi opened up about a cancer scare. Now, 38, the Jersey Shore star, posted on her TikTok an emotional video, where she explained that she has been dealing with abnormal pap smear results. She said that it has been about four year since the precancerous cells were found. Because of that she had to undergo an "uncomfortable" colposcopy and biopsy.

She said that when the results came back, the doctor informed her that her cervix is "Not looking great". The doctor had found cancerous cells on the top of her cervix. She said that she would soon need a cone biopsy under anesthesia for further testing. "I am terrified. It is scary, but we have to get it done because cervical cancer is nothing to joke about."

She said, "But whatever to keep me healthy and safe to be here for my kids that I have now," referring to her three children with her husband Jionni LaValle.

In her TikTok video, she said that she is scared and freaking out. She also said that she hopes to find community on social media with other women who have been through the same.

She also agreed to delaying her routine examination because of fear. "I waited on my appointments because I knew I might not get great results but also because I didn't want to feel the pain. I didn't want to deal with the stress of having to deal with all of this," she said.

Talking about her TikTok video, she said, “Just making this video to spread awareness to make sure you get your pap smears. And if your doctor calls you to do it again, do it, Make sure you are fine and prevent all the bad things that could happen, like cervical cancer." She said she was nervous but also shared that she received a lot of support from her friends and family. "Being a woman is not easy and is definitely a scary thing. I know I am going to be fine. It is just scary."

Read: Oncologist Reveals 5 Subtle Cervical Cancer Signs That You May Miss

What Is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer develops in a women's cervix (uterus opening) due to abnormal cell growth, primarily caused by persistent HPV infection, a common infection that's passed through sexual contact.

When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents the virus from causing damage however, in a small percentage of people, the virus can survive for years and pave the way for some cervical cells to become cancerous.

Treatment involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with early detection significantly improving outcomes, though it remains a major cancer in low-income countries. Cervical cancer can also be prevented through vaccination and regular screening (Pap/HPV tests).

Dr Ninad Katdare told News18: "In its early stages, it is often more of a whisper than a shout. As a cancer surgeon who has treated hundreds of women with gynaecological cancers, I can say with confidence that recognizing these subtle cues can lead to earlier diagnosis and significantly better outcomes."