COVID-19 Variants: A Comparative Analysis
August 27, 2021

The Covid-19 viruses have taken forms ever since it was first discovered. Viruses constantly change due to mutation. When a virus undergoes one or more mutations, it is called a variant. Coronavirus has caused several variants across the globe.
Once a virus enters the physical body, its genetic material enters the cells and starts making copies of itself which may infect the other cells. Whenever a blunder occurs during this copying process, it triggers a mutation. Covid-19 mutations of significance are divided into three types.
They are:
- Variant of Interest
- Variant of Concern
- Variant of High Consequence.
Variant | Originated from | Month and year | Countries affected | Symptoms |
Alpha Variant | United Kingdom | September 2020 | Minimum of 173 countries such as the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Wales, Ireland, United States. | Chills, loss of appetite, headache and muscle aches. |
Beta Variant | South Africa | May 2020 | 122 countries including United States | 50% more transmissible, severe infections. |
Gamma Variant | Brazil | November 2020 | 62 countries including Canada, Italy, United States | Body aches, sore throat, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, headache, loss of taste or smell. |
Delta Variant | India | 2020 | 96 countries including Singapore, France, Spain, UK, USA | Persistent cough, headache, fever, and sore throat. Headache, sore throat, runny nose, and fever seem to be more common. |
Delta Plus Variant | India | 2020 | Spread across many states including Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra | Skin rash, change in the color of the toes, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell, diarrhea, headache, or runny nose, etc. |
Kappa Variant | India | December 2020 | Minimum 50 countries which include USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia | Rashes everywhere on the body, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red and watery eyes. |
Lambda Variant | Peru | December 2020 | Minimum 30 countries counting Chile, Mexico, Germany and Argentina. | Loss of smell, taste, fever and cough. |