Winter commonly brings about the prevalence of sore throats, leaving individuals questioning whether their symptoms indicate strep throat, COVID-19, or another ailment. While concerns about the HV.1 and JN.1 variants may lead to an assumption of COVID-19, it's important to recognize that various winter illnesses warrant consideration. Differentiating between COVID-19 and strep throat is crucial. COVID-19 results from a viral infection, whereas strep throat is caused by bacteria. Strep is highly contagious ...