COVID variant JN.1 now more than 90% of cases in U.S., CDC estimates

Close to all new COVID-19 cases in the United States are now being caused by the JN.1 variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, with an estimated 93.1% of infections now blamed on the highly mutated strain. 

The CDC's latest biweekly estimate of the variant's spread was published Friday. It comes as key trends reflecting COVID-19's spread are now showing signs of slowing, following a peak over the winter holidays.

"Several key indicators are showing decreasing levels of activity nationally," the agency said Friday in its weekly respiratory viruses report.