Variants of concern SARS-CoV-2 comparison March 2021| ��ƽ��

Comparison of variants of concern (VoC) of SARS-CoV-2 as of March 29, 2022

Name (lineage, country of first appearance)	Number of mutations on the spike protein*	Increased transmissibility (%)**	Number of countries/territories reported
Alpha (B.1.1.7, UK)	11	29	203
Beta (B.1.351, South Africa)	10	25	153
Gamma (P.1, Brazil)	12	38	113
Delta (B.1.617.2, India)	10	97	208
Omicron (B.1.1529, South Africa)	32	-	199

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Release date

March 2022

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Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

as of March 29, 2022

Supplementary notes

* No value means increased transmissibility is only suggested/unknown yet.
** Change relative to previously circulating variants at the time and place of appearance. No value means no reliable data available yet.

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At end of November 2021, a new variant of concern (VoC) of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) raised concern due to its specific characteristics. It was detected for the first time in South Africa and has spread at 199 countries and territories as of March 29, 2022. The variant is called 'Omicron' (lineage B.1.1.529) and has more than 30 spike protein mutations. These mutations are especially under investigation because they could lead to an increased transmissibility and make the virus potentially capable of evading vaccine-mediated immunity.

The first variant of concern was called B.1.1.7 (today: Alpha) and was first detected in the United Kingdom in December 2020. In the meantime there had been verified appearances in nearly 200 countries and territories, as of November 2021. For the first time, the main problem with this variant was its increased transmissibility which was first estimated at 40-50 percent.