• Just like any virus, the original coronavirus strain is expected to mutate into new variants.


• All COVID-19 tests will detect any variant, althoguh they are incapable of telling you which variant you have or if you have one.


• Most variants have similar symptoms as the original COVID-19 strain.


• Scientists classify these variants as variants of interest, of concern, and of high consequence based on transmission rate, treatments, and severity. There are currently four variants of concern in the US:


• For more information, visit the CDC website.

The delta variant, first discoverd in India, was the main cause behind subcontinent's intense COVID numbers this past spring. Studies show that this variant is probably the most transmissible of the main four "variants of concern".

The alpha variant, first identified in the UK, is believed to be 50% more transmissible from person to person than the original coronavirus strain. Causing a surge of cases in the UK in the fall of 2020, the alpha variant has been the dominant variant in the US for most of this past year, but it is soon to be taken over by the delta variant.

The gamma variant spiked in Brazil and it also believed to be more transmissible than the original COVID-19 strain, although we do not know by how much. It has not grown significantly in the US but has overtaken the beta variant in domestic cases.

The beta variant gets its name from being believed to be 50% more transmissible than the original strain, as the alpha variant is. Emerging from South Africa, this variant has not grown significantly in the US either.

Although research has not shown whether any of these variants is more severe or not than the original strain, experts agree that their higher transmission rates are set to be the most important deciding factor in how the pandemic continues.