How many COVID variants are there just? – Fatherly

First it was Delta. Then Omicron was the talk of the town. Recently, Omicron 2.0 raised new concerns. How many COVID variants are there just? It’s like the coronavirus is going to keep mutating forever! What… yes, it actually is. That’s how viruses work, from flu to chickenpox to HPV. And while frightening, it does not guarantee doom and gloom and a never-ending COVID-19 pandemic.

Mutations occur randomly in all living things. And depending on the type of organism, some or all of those mutations are passed on to the next generation. Those generations get into viruses very quickly. (Viruses are not technically alive, but it’s the same idea.) Some of these mutations actually make the virus worse for infecting humans, and they blow out. Many mutations are neutral. But some favor the virus, which allows it to spread faster in humans, such as by becoming more transmissible or better at evading COVID vaccines.

Currently, there are two so-called “variants of concern” and 10 “variants being monitored” by the US Government SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG). However, there are many more variants that health officials are not particularly worried about.

As long as COVID is circulating, it will continue to mutate, and new variants will emerge. Large populations of unvaccinated people make it more likely that these variants will develop, so go get your chance!

Types of COVID variants

Variants marked as variants monitored by SIG is either potentially or clearly worse than the original coronavirus. They may be linked to more serious illnesses or increased transmission, or vaccines and treatments may be less effective against them. However, they are either no longer detected or are detected at very low levels in the US

Some variants are considered variant of importance. These variants may be worse than the original coronavirus, but health authorities are not yet entirely sure. They may have genetic markers that may alter transmission, diagnosis, treatment or the virus’ ability to evade the immune system. Or they may be suspected of causing more serious illnesses or increased transmission. But these variants are not common. In other words, the authorities are following up on these variants because it could possibly become a problem, but it is not a problem at the moment. There are currently no variants of interest as classified by SIG.

As a step up, the SIG classifies some variants as variant of come. There is evidence that these variants are worse for diagnostics, treatments or vaccines, or that they are more transmissible or cause worse diseases. Basically, they are confirmed to be more dangerous, although they are widespread or not.

There are also variants of high result, which are the top-layer scary variants. Fortunately, no one has been identified yet. To reach this level, there will have to be “clear evidence that preventive measures of medical countermeasures … have significantly reduced efficacy compared to previously circulating variants.” Yes, this type of variant will have to be worse than Delta and Omicron.

So what variants should you actually worry about? Here is your cheat sheet for each variant on the US watchlist at the moment.

Variant van will:

• • • What to know: It is more than twice as transmissible as the original coronavirus. Antibody treatments and vaccinations may be less effective against it.
    • First identified in: India in October 2020
    • Where it is now: Delta is still circulating, but in many countries Omicron has replaced it as the dominant variant.
• Omicron
  • • What to know: Omicron is possibly four times more transmissible than Delta, but usually causes less serious illnesses than previous variants. Vaccines and monoclonal antibody treatments are less effective against it, and Omicron is better at evading immunity than Delta.
    • First identified in: Several countries in November 2021
    • Where it is now: Omicron is now the dominant variant in the US and many other countries.

Variants monitored:

• • • What to know: Compared to the original coronavirus, it is about 50 percent more transmissible, and it can cause worse diseases. Recovery therapy and vaccination can be minimally affected.
    • First identified in: United Kingdom in September 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

• • • What to know: Compared to the original coronavirus, it is about 50 percent more transmissible. One type of antibody treatment is significantly less effective against it, and recovery therapy and vaccination are less effective against it.
    • First identified in: South Africa in May 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

• • • What to know: One type of antibody treatment is significantly less effective against it, and recovery therapy and vaccination are less effective against it.
    • First identified in: Brazil in November 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.
• Epsilon
  • • What to know: It may be more transmissible, and vaccination may be less effective against it.
    • First identified in: California in July 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

• • • What to know: Antibody treatments, recovery plasma therapy and vaccination may be less effective against it.
    • First identified in: UK and Nigeria in December 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

• • • What to know: Less susceptible to a certain type of antibody treatment. Recovery plasma therapy and vaccination may be less effective against it.
    • First identified in: New York in November 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

• • • What to know: Some antibody treatments and vaccinations may be less effective against it.
    • First identified in: India in December 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

• • • What to know: Some antibody treatments and vaccinations may be less effective against it. Listed by the CDC but not by the WHO.
    • First identified in: India in October 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

• • • What to know: It may have been more likely to cause re-infection.
    • First identified in: Brazil in April 2020
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

• • • What to know: Vaccination may be less effective against it. Recently listed by the WHO, but not by the CDC.
    • First identified in: Colombia in January 2021
    • Where it is now: Few cases are currently reported.

This story is evolving. We will update it as soon as new information becomes available.