Coronavirus Variants Have Three Classifications

The beta coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19 is mutating, and that's to be expected, stated the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, as more mutations and variants are reported, the CDC says 'Variants of Concern' might require one or more public health actions, such as reporting to the World Health Organization, reporting to CDC, local or regional efforts to control spread.

On March 15, 2021, a US government interagency group announced a Variant Classification scheme that defines three classes of SARS-CoV-2 variants: Variant of Interest; Variant of Concern; and Variant of High Consequence.

The B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.427, and B.1.429 variants circulating in the United States are classified as Variants of Concern.

These variants share one specific mutation called D614G, which was first documented in the USA in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Various COVID-19 vaccines have recently launched additional clinical studies to validate efficacy against some of these variants.

As of March 16, 2021, the U.S. CDC reported the following number of variant cases:

• UK B.1.1.7 = 4,686
• South Africa B.1.351 = 142
• Brazil P.1 = 27
• B.1.427 = 0
• B.1.429 = 0

While the total number of variants report to date represent a small percentage of total SARS-CoV-2 cases confirmed during 2021, the CDC says as diagnostic testing is enhanced, the data may change.