Coronavirus (COVID-19): What Are Variants?

As the COVID-19 pandemic goes on, we’re hearing about “variants” of the virus that are different from the original one that started the pandemic. Here are the basics on variants.

What Is a Variant?

When viruses spread, they make copies of themselves. As they do, they often mutate, or change, a little bit. A copy that is different from the original virus is called a variant. Sometimes variants don’t seem that different from the original virus. Others may have clear differences.

The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has gone through this type of changing process many times during the pandemic. Each time a new coronavirus variant emerges, the World Health Organization (WHO) gives it a name based on a letter from the Greek alphabet. Variants of note include alpha, delta, and omicron.

How Can Variants Differ From the Original Virus?

Variants can differ from the original virus based on:

• how contagious they are
• how sick they make people
• how they respond to vaccines and medicines
• whether people can get infected with the virus more than once

What Can Protect People From These Variants?

In general, the steps that experts have recommended to protect us from the original virus also can work to stop the spread of other variants.

It is still very important to keep doing the things that are in our control, such as:

• getting vaccinated
• wearing masks
• physical distancing
• washing hands well and often
• testing, contact tracing, and staying home when necessary

What Else Should I Know?

Scientists constantly watch for new variants, but it takes time to gather data. Sometimes information gets published before experts know what we're dealing with. This can make a situation sound scarier than it really is. It's best to wait for the facts to become clear, which can take weeks or longer, before reacting to news of a new variant.