(Hampton Roads, VA) -- A summer COVID surge has health officials in Virginia on alert. Rocio Rivera has more.Preview: The CDC says theres a new COVID variant that's dominating, the KP.3 strain. They report a more than 12% jump in the strain in some states. Virginia Department of Health epidemiologist, Lisa Engle, tells WAVY we should treat this COVID strain like any other respiratory illness. But she doesn't think we should start masking again. The Department of Health still recommends getting a COVID vaccine as the best way to protect yourself. Symptoms of the new strain are similar to old ones, fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat. But most important, if you are sick, stay home. I'm RR.