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Sep 1, 2023 · The World Health Organization (WHO) names new coronavirus variants using the letters of the Greek alphabet, starting with the Alpha variant, which emerged in 2020. Below is a list of—and information about—some of the variants that have been top-of-mind.
- kathy.katella-cofrancesco@yale.edu
Variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ( SARS-CoV-2) are viruses that, while similar to the original, have genetic changes that are of enough significance to lead virologists to label them separately. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
The number of analyzed sequences in the preceding two weeks that correspond to each variant group. This number may not reflect the complete breakdown of cases since only a fraction of all cases are sequenced.
A new WHO SARS-CoV-2 variant nomenclature aimed at the general public uses letters of the Greek alphabet. The complex and different SARS-CoV-2 variant naming systems have created confusion among the public. Alternative SARS-CoV-2 variant names have been used that include country names.
Jul 26, 2024 · From May 2021 onwards, WHO began assigning simple, easy-to-say labels for key variants. Considerable progress has been made in establishing and strengthening a global system to detect signals of potential VOIs or VOCs and rapidly assess the risk posed by SARS-CoV-2 variants to public health.
National authorities are encouraged to publish their risk assessment methodology and the list of departure countries or areas to which restrictions apply; and these should be updated regularly.
May 31, 2021 · The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a new naming system for variants of Covid-19. From now on the WHO will use Greek letters to refer to variants first detected in countries...
