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Understanding COVID-19 Variants: What You Need to Know

Jerome Albert Ecker | MD

Medically reviewed by Jerome Albert Ecker | MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Duke University - Durham, NC on June 2nd, 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • Major variants like Delta increased transmissibility by 60% compared to the original strain, while Omicron spreads 2-3 times faster than Delta but typically causes less severe illness.

  • Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron are designated "Variants of Concern" by the WHO based on increased transmissibility, disease severity, or ability to evade immunity.

  • Omicron subvariants cause more upper respiratory symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, sneezing) compared to earlier strains that primarily affected the lower respiratory tract.

  • mRNA vaccines maintain 70-80% effectiveness against hospitalization even with variants, though breakthrough infections are more common with Omicron than previous strains.

  • Antiviral treatments like Paxlovid remain effective across variants when started within 5 days of symptom onset, reducing hospitalization risk by 89%.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you may have heard about different variants or strains of the virus. It's natural to have questions about what this means for your health and the course of the pandemic. In this article, we'll explain what COVID-19 variants are, how they form, and what you need to know to stay informed and safe.

What Are COVID-19 Variants?

Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. When a virus replicates or makes copies of itself, it sometimes changes a little bit. These changes are called "mutations." A virus with one or more new mutations is referred to as a "variant" of the original virus.

The virus that causes COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV-2, has undergone numerous mutations since it was first identified in 2019. While many of these changes have little to no impact on the virus's properties, some mutations can affect how easily the virus spreads, the severity of the disease it causes, or the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments.

Understanding COVID-19 Variants: What You Need to Know

How Do Scientists Track and Classify COVID-19 Variants?

Scientists around the world are constantly monitoring changes in the genetic material of the COVID-19 virus. They use this information to track the emergence and spread of new variants. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a classification system for COVID-19 variants based on their potential impact on public health:

  • Variants of Concern (VOC): These variants show evidence of increased transmissibility, more severe disease, reduced effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic detection failures.

  • Variants of Interest (VOI): These variants have genetic changes that are predicted to affect virus characteristics, and have been identified to cause significant community transmission or multiple COVID-19 clusters.

As of October 2023, there are no Variants of Concern circulating, but several Variants of Interest are being monitored, including Omicron subvariants like EG.5 (nicknamed "Eris") and BA.2.86 (nicknamed "Pirola").

What Are the Symptoms of COVID-19 Variants?

The basic symptoms of COVID-19 have remained largely the same across variants, including:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Fatigue

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

  • Body aches

  • Headache

  • Sore throat

  • Loss of taste or smell

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting

However, some variants have been associated with slightly different symptom profiles. For example, the Delta variant was less likely to cause a loss of taste and smell, while Omicron variants have tended to cause more cold-like symptoms such as runny nose and sore throat.

Staying Informed and Protected

As the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, it's important to stay informed about new variants and how they might impact your health. Rely on trusted sources like the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and your local health department for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Remember, the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, regardless of the variant, is to follow recommended public health measures such as vaccination, wearing a mask, maintaining social distance, and practicing good hand hygiene. By working together and staying vigilant, we can slow the spread of the virus and its variants.

The Bottom Line

While variants continue to emerge through natural viral mutation, current vaccines and treatments remain highly effective at preventing severe outcomes across all strains. Staying up-to-date with boosters provides the best protection as immunity wanes over time. If you're experiencing new respiratory symptoms or have questions about variant exposure, Doctronic can help you assess your symptoms quickly.

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