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Uzone.id — Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve seen several variants of the virus—like Omicron, Delta, and Alpha—spread across the globe. The reason there are so many variants is that SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, keeps mutating over time.
Although new variants are an expected part of the evolution of viruses, it’s important to monitor each one to ensure we’re ready to respond and stay ahead of the pandemic.
So, what’s the deal with these names, and how are these variants different?
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, then followed by the Delta, and Omicron etc.
The reason is simple, so they can track and discuss them easier globally. Each variant has unique features that affect how it spreads, how severe the infection might be, or how well vaccines work against it.
Alpha: The First Child
The Alpha variant (also known as B.1.1.7) was the first major variant to hit the headlines in late 2020. Based on Yale Medicine, Alpha first appeared in Great Britain in November 2020 and infections surged in December of that year.
Alpha was more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19. This led to a surge in cases in several countries, even becoming the dominant variant in the U.S.
Alpha variants had a “significantly higher transmission rate” compared to earlier strains. This means it spreads more easily, making it a cause for concern worldwide.
“The B.1.1.7 lineage was believed to be 30 to 50% more contagious than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. In the U.S., in mid-April 2021—before Delta became predominant—Alpha comprised 66% of cases, according to a study released in June by the CDC,” quoted from Yale Medicine.
Beta: The Second Wave
Around the same time as the Alpha variant, B.1.351 or Beta was identified in South Africa at the end of 2020 and spread to other countries. Alpha and Beta played a crucial role in the global spread of COVID-19 and highlighted the virus’s ability to evolve and adapt.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Beta was about 50% more contagious than the original coronavirus strain, and there was evidence that Beta may have been more likely than other variants to lead to hospitalization and death.
Delta: The Game Changer
By mid-2021, the Delta variant (B.1.617.2), which first emerged in India, became the dominant strain in many countries. Later on, the Delta variant led to a surge in cases and hospitalizations in many parts of the world.
Delta was a major game-changer because it was even more contagious than Alpha, it was estimated to have been 80 to 90% more transmissible than the Alpha variant.
According to the CDC, Delta was “about twice as contagious as previous variants” and led to increased hospitalizations, especially among the unvaccinated.
Based on Yale Medicine, three vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson) were considered highly effective against severe illness, hospitalizations, and death from Delta.
But again, no vaccine is 100% effective, and Delta caused breakthrough infections in some fully vaccinated people. Also, infected vaccinated people could spread the virus to others, although likely they were infectious for a shorter time.
Omicron: The Newest (and Sneakiest) Variant
Late in 2021, the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) entered the scene and quickly spread worldwide. Omicron is known for its crazy number of mutations—over 50 in total, with many in the spike protein, which the virus uses to infect cells. These mutations allowed Omicron to spread super fast.
By December of that year, Omicron was causing daily case numbers in the U.S. to skyrocket to over a million.
In 2022, it spawned several sub-variants. In 2023, a new Omicron strain called EG.5 (nicknamed “Eris”) showed up and became the dominant strain in the U.S.
Omicron’s sub-variants are considered to be especially efficient spreaders of the disease. Yale reported that the original strain of this variant spread faster than Delta. Omicron also caused milder symptoms for many people, but because it spread so widely, hospitals still struggled to keep up with the number of cases.
The CDC says that while breakthrough infections in vaccinated people are expected, staying up to date with vaccinations is the best protection against Omicron.
Other Variants: What About Beta, Gamma, and Others?
Not every variant makes a huge impact globally. Some variants don’t spread as well or get outcompeted by faster-spreading versions like Delta or Omicron. For example, you might also have heard of the Beta and Gamma variants, which first emerged in South Africa and Brazil, respectively.
While these variants raised concerns due to how they might affect immunity and vaccines, they didn’t spread as widely as Alpha or Delta.
Coronavirus variants, like Omicron, Delta, and Alpha, show that this virus is here to stay, but it’s also evolving. Vaccines and ongoing research give us a fighting chance. Just remember, stay informed, stay vaccinated, and don’t stress—we’re in this together, and we’ve got the tools to protect ourselves from whatever variants come next.
