What is a variant?

Viruses are constantly in transition, figuring out how to more efficiently infect cells in order to replicate. Variants of viruses occur when there is a change — or mutation — to the virus’s genes.

Each variant can have different effects that make it more or less contagious or deadly than the strains that preceded. Multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that cause COVID-19 have been detected in the United States and internationally.

What are the coronavirus variants?

• Omicron - A new variant of COVID-19 first detected by South African researchers, though the origins are unknown. Many variants of the virus have been detected so far, but only Delta has been listed as a “variant of concern” by the CDC in the United States. The best way to stay safe is to continue to use safety measures such as wearing a mask, avoiding large crowds, frequent hand hygiene and getting vaccinated if possible.

• Lambda - A strain detected in South America.

• Delta - As of July 2021, delta was regarded as the most contagious form of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus so far. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described Delta as more transmissible than the common cold and influenza, as well as the viruses that cause smallpox, MERS, SARS, and Ebola—and called it as contagious as chickenpox.
  It is now the dominant strain in the United States.

• Delta Plus - This variant has a single different mutation called K417N, which affects the spike protein that the virus needs to infect cells. This protein is that primary target for the mRNA vaccines.

The early variants below were not found to be easily contracted by fully vaccinated people.

• B.1.1.7

• B.1.351

• P1

Why does the coronavirus change?

Variants of viruses occur when there is a change — or mutation — to the virus’s genes. (John Hopkins Medicine)

What makes the new coronavirus variants different?

Variants of viruses occur when there is a change or mutation to the virus’s genes. The more bodies that COVID-19 is in, the more likely that there will be mutations that will cause variant strains.

• These mutations add up and create slightly different versions of the virus, called “variants.” Sometimes new variants appear and then disappear. Other times, new variants stay around.

• They are called variants of concern if there is evidence that they spread more easily, cause more serious illness, are harder to detect, treat or prevent with vaccines.

• Scientists continue to study and track these variants as they evolve. Many variants of COVID-19 have emerged in the United States.

• At this point, the original version of the virus that was spreading in January 2020 is no longer circulating.

Which variants of the COVID-19 virus have been found in the United States?

The CDC is tracking several variants of concern in the United States:

• Alpha (B.1.1.7) United Kingdom December 2020

• Beta (B.1.351) South Africa January 2021

• Gamma (P.1) In travelers from Brazil January 2021

• Delta (B.1.617.2) India March 2021 (The Delta variant is currently the most common form of the virus in Los Angeles County)

Historical information about the Delta variant

• Scientists at John Hopkins Medicine found evidence that the newer variants - Delta and Alpha - are more contagious than previous variants. Alpha and Delta appear to affect the coronavirus’s spike protein, which covers the outer coating of SARS-CoV-2 and give the virus its spiky appearance. These proteins help the virus attach to human cells in the nose, lungs and other areas of the body.

• The Delta variant also seems to be “stickier” because of the change in the spike protein, which makes the Delta variant more contagious than the earlier strains.

• As of July 22 2021, 97% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the United States were unvaccinated.

• A recent study showed that children and unvaccinated adults under 50 years old were 2.5 times more likely to become infected with Delta than by previous strains.

• Anyone who is unvaccinated and not practicing preventive strategies is at high risk for infection by one of the new variants.

• Research has found that the Delta variant grows more rapidly and to much greater levels in the respiratory tract. This results is more people being hospitalized and at risk of needing to be placed on a ventilator.

• According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 0.005% of the vaccinated population has reported breakthrough cases of COVID-19. Vaccines are never 100% effective. Therefore doctors and scientists expect a small percentage of the population to have breakthrough infections.

• Vaccinated people who have COVID-19 usually have no symptoms or very mild side effects like those of a common cold. These cases rarely result in hospitalization or death.

New variants will continue as long as large numbers of people are unvaccinated

As long as people across the world are unvaccinated, new strains of the COVID-19 virus will continue to develop and cause problems.