Guidance

SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest: 6 August 2021

Updated 21 April 2023

Horizon scan

International epidemiology scan 3 August 2021
Imported sample mutation scan 2 August 2021
Signals in monitoring scan 2 August 2021
Phylogenetic cluster detection 3 August 2021
International mutation scan 3 August 2021
Domestic mutation scan 30 July 2021
Reinfections scan 30 June 2021
Vaccinees scan 23 July 2021
Signals investigated 29 July to 4 August 3
New genomes 29 July to 4 August 40,763

Note: Signals of individual mutations and new clusters excluded until defined variant identified

SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest: variants detected in the UK

Variants of concern

Alpha (VOC-20DEC-01, B.1.1.7)
Beta (VOC-20DEC-02, B.1.351)
Gamma (VOC-21JAN-02, P.1)
Delta (VOC-21APR-02, B.1.617.2, AY.1, AY.2, and AY.3)

Variants under investigation

Eta (VUI-21FEB-03, B.1.525)
VUI-21FEB-04 (B.1.1.318)
Theta (VUI-21MAR-02, P.3)
Kappa (VUI-21APR-01, B.1.617.1)
VUI-21APR-03 (B.1.617.3)
VUI-21MAY-01 (AV.1)
VUI-21MAY-02 (C.36.3)
Lambda (VUI-21JUN-01, C.37)
VUI-21JUL-01 (B.1.621)

Signals currently under monitoring and investigation

Lineage A with R346K, T478R and E484K
A.27
AT.1
Alpha with S494P
Alpha with Q677H
B.1.214.2
Epsilon B.1.427/B.1.429
Iota B.1.526
Delta-like variant with E484A
B.1.619
B.1.620
B.1.629
C.1.2
R.1

SARS-CoV-2 variants of public health interest: variants not detected in the UK

Variants provisionally extinct (not detected for 12 weeks in the UK)

VUI-21FEB-01 (A.23.1 with E484K)
VUI-21MAR-01 (B.1.324.1 with E484K)

International variants of concern

VOC-21FEB-02 (ALPHA with E484K)

International variants under investigation

Zeta (VUI-21JAN-01, P.2)

International signals under monitoring

B.1 with 214insQAS
P.1 + N501T and E484Q