Variants: distribution of case data, 23 December 2021
Updated 24 June 2022
© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-variants-genomically-confirmed-case-numbers/variants-distribution-of-case-data-23-december-2021
Variants of concern or under investigation: data up to 22 December 2021
Surveillance overview
UK total distribution
| Variant* | Other names by which this variant may be known** | Lineage | Total confirmed (sequencing) and probable (genotyping) cases‡ | New cases since last update (data up to 15 December) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | VOC-20DEC-01 | B.1.1.7 | 277,629 | +122 |
| Beta§ | VOC-20DEC-02 | B.1.351 | 1,110§ | -1 |
| Gamma | VOC-21JAN-02 | P.1 | 285 | -8 |
| Delta† | VOC-21APR-02 | B.1.617.2 AY.1 AY.2 | 1,672,658† | +47,101 |
| VUI-21OCT-01*** | VUI-21OCT-01 | A.Y 4.2 | 108,507 | +12,007 |
| Omicron | VOC-21NOV-01 | B.1.1.529 | 90,906 | +80,889 |
| Zeta | VUI-21JAN-01 | P.2 | 57 | 0 |
| VUI-21FEB-03 | VUI-21FEB-03 | B.1.525 (previously designated UK1188) | 514 | 0 |
| VUI-21FEB-04 | VUI-21FEB-04 | B.1.1.318 | 366 | 0 |
| Theta | VUI-21MAR-02 | P.3 | 10 | 0 |
| Kappa | VUI-21APR-01 | B.1.617.1 | 521 | +1 |
| VUI-21APR-03 | VUI-21APR-03 | B.1.617.3 | 18 | 0 |
| VUI-21MAY-02 | VUI-21MAY-02 | C.36.3 | 158 | +1 |
| Lambda | VUI-21JUN-01 | C.37 | 8 | -1 |
| Mu§ | VUI-21JUL-01 | B.1.621 | 59§ | +1 |
*Information pertaining to VUI-21MAR-01, B1.324.1 with E484K has been removed as this variant has been reclassified as provisionally extinct. Variants VUI-21FEB-01 (A.23.1 with E484K), and VOC-21FEB-02 (Alpha with E484K) are provisionally extinct (not detected for 12 weeks in the UK or in GISAID) therefore they will no longer be included in the publication from 12 November 2021. Variant VUI-21MAY-01, AV.1 has been removed as of 3 December 2021 as it has been classified as provisionally extinct.
**WHO naming has been included where available.
† Of which 678 had the K417N mutation.
‡Confirmed individuals are confirmed COVID-19 cases with a validated sequencing result meeting the confirmed case definitions outlined in the sections below. Probable individuals are confirmed COVID-19 cases with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available. Published figures include genotyping assay data for England, using a combination of highly specific mutations as an indicator of a probable variant. Genotyping assay data is currently only available for Alpha, Beta (for specimen dates up to and including 30 June 2021), Delta and Gamma.
§Due to having identical genotyping profiles, since 1 July Beta and Mu cases identified by genotyping have been categorised as ‘Beta or Mu’. In addition to the above numbers, a further 17 ‘Beta or Mu’ provisional genotyping cases have been identified.
***Confirmed VOC-21APR-02 with at least 2 VUI-21OCT-01 lineage defining positions called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases.
There will be no ‘COVID-19 variants: genomically confirmed case numbers’ publication on 31 December. The publication will resume as normal the following week, on 7 January 2022.
Differences between a variant of concern and a variant under investigation
SARS-CoV-2 variants, if considered to have concerning epidemiological, immunological or pathogenic properties, are raised for formal investigation. At this point they are designated variant under investigation (VUI) with a year, month, and number. Following a risk assessment with the relevant expert committee, they may be designated variant of concern (VOC).
Changes in nomenclature
The previous variant names frequently include similar numbers with similar or repeating patterns. This makes referring to them verbally challenging. To overcome this challenge, a revised nomenclature has been agreed involving dropping the first 2 numbers of the year and replacing the 2-month numbers with a 3-letter abbreviation. This shortens the name and reduces the degree of repeated sequences of numbers. The table containing surveillance overview ‘UK total distribution’ contains a list of new variant names alongside previous or other names in use for VOCs and VUIs.
Alpha
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in the UK and was first sequenced in the UK in September 2020.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 226,866 |
| Northern Ireland | 9,166 |
| Scotland | 29,129 |
| Wales | 12,468 |
| Total cases | 277,629 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 5 VOC-20DEC-01 lineage defining positions are called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases |
| Probable (genotyping) | COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Beta
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in South Africa and was first sequenced in the UK in December 2020.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 996 |
| Northern Ireland | 9 |
| Scotland | 62 |
| Wales | 43 |
| Total cases | 1,110 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case where: • at least 4 VOC-20DEC-02 lineage defining positions are called as alternate (variant) base, and • all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases or • at least 5 of the 9 non-synonymous changes |
| Probable (genotyping) | COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Gamma
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in Japan in travellers from Brazil in January 2021 and was first detected in the UK in February 2021.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 260 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 |
| Scotland | 23 |
| Wales | 2 |
| Total cases | 285 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with: • at least 5 lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base, and • all other positions either N or mixed bases |
| Probable (genotyping) | COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Delta
Surveillance overview
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 1,364,061 |
| Northern Ireland | 91,188 |
| Scotland | 129,405 |
| Wales | 88,004 |
| Total cases | 1,672,658 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 4 variant defining changes called as alternate base |
| Probable (genotyping) | COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
VUI-21OCT-01
Surveillance overview
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 83,046 |
| Northern Ireland | 676 |
| Scotland | 11,324 |
| Wales | 13,461 |
| Total cases | 108,507 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case that is confirmed VOC-21APR-02 with at least 2 VUI-21OCT-01 lineage defining positions called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases. |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Omicron
Surveillance overview
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 83,526 |
| Northern Ireland | 3,877 |
| Scotland | 2,326 |
| Wales | 1,177 |
| Total cases | 90,906 |
Cases by LTLA
Confirmed Omicron and S-gene target failure cases by local authority.
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 10 lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base and no more than 7 defining positions called as wild-type |
| Probable (genotyping) | COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Zeta
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in Brazil and was first sequenced in the UK in November 2020.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 51 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 |
| Scotland | 5 |
| Wales | 1 |
| Total cases | 57 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* case confirmed as infected with VUI-21JAN-01 through whole genome sequencing (WGS) where: • results of all lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base or • 6 of 7 non-synonymous changes called as alternate base, and • remaining position either N or mixed bases |
| Probable (genotyping) | COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
VUI-21FEB-03
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in the UK in December 2020.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 462 |
| Northern Ireland | 2 |
| Scotland | 40 |
| Wales | 10 |
| Total cases | 514 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with: • at least 5 lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base, and • all other positions either N or mixed bases |
| Probable (genotyping) | COVID-19* confirmed case with a genotyping result where sequencing confirmation is awaited or not available |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
VUI-21FEB-04
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in the UK (England).
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 315 |
| Northern Ireland | 40 |
| Scotland | 11 |
| Wales | 0 |
| Total cases | 366 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with: • at least 5 lineage defining non-synonymous changes called as alternate base, and • all other positions either N or mixed base or • at least 5 of the 9 non-synonymous changes |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Theta
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in the Philippines.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 7 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 |
| Scotland | 3 |
| Wales | 0 |
| Total cases | 10 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with: • at least 7 variant defining changes called as alternate base, and • all other positions either N or mixed base |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Kappa
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in India.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 475 |
| Northern Ireland | 4 |
| Scotland | 27 |
| Wales | 15 |
| Total cases | 521 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with: • at least 6** variant defining changes called as alternate base, and • all other positions either N or mixed base |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
| **Due to overlap with Delta sequences, the case definition of Kappa sequences was changed on 27 August 2021. |
VUI-21APR-03
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in India.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 15 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 |
| Scotland | 0 |
| Wales | 3 |
| Total cases | 18 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with: • at least 8 variant defining changes called as alternate base, and • all other positions either N or mixed base |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
VUI-21MAY-02
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in Thailand (in travellers from Egypt).
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 147 |
| Northern Ireland | 3 |
| Scotland | 4 |
| Wales | 4 |
| Total cases | 158 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 5 variant defining changes called as alternate base, and • all other positions either N or mixed base. |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Lambda
Surveillance overview
This variant was first detected in Peru in August 2020.
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 8 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 |
| Scotland | 0 |
| Wales | 0 |
| Total cases | 8 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 5 VUI-21JUN-01 lineage defining positions are called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases. |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |
Mu
Surveillance overview
| Total confirmed and probable cases | |
|---|---|
| England | 53 |
| Northern Ireland | 2 |
| Scotland | 3 |
| Wales | 1 |
| Total cases | 59 |
Case definitions
| Genomic match | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Confirmed (sequencing) |
COVID-19* confirmed case with at least 5 VUI-21JUL-01 defining mutations called as alternate (variant) base and all other defining positions reported as N (unknown) or mixed bases. |
| *A confirmed COVID-19 case: a case where the individual is confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). |