Is it possible to be infected with 2 different COVID-19 variants at the same time?

The bottom line

It's possible to get sick with more than one COVID-19 variant at the same time. But it's not clear if dual infection is more serious than being sick with only one variant.

How do new variants of COVID-19 occur?

Viruses constantly change through mutation and sometimes these mutations result in a new variant of the virus. Some variants emerge and disappear while others persist. New variants will continue to emerge.

What are the differences between the delta and mu variants of COVID-19?

The highly infectious delta variant is twice as contagious as previous variants. It was first identified in India in December of 2020. Mu was first detected in January 2021 in Colombia. Mutations of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have been emerging since the pandemic began.

Are there different variants of COVID-19 in the US?

SARS-CoV-2 is constantly changing, and new variants of the virus are expected to occur. In early 2021, the Alpha variant emerged, followed by the Delta variant later that summer. In late 2021 and throughout early 2022, the Omicron variant swept across the country and continues to be the predominant variant circulating in the United States.

What is the difference between a variant of interest and a variant of COVID-19?

A variant of interest is a coronavirus variant that, compared with earlier forms of the virus, has genetic characteristics that predict greater transmissibility, evasion of immunity or diagnostic testing, or more severe disease.

What to do if I have COVID? Treatment

What are some of the symptoms of the Omicron COVID-19 variant?

All of the variants, including delta and omicron, cause similar COVID-19 symptoms, including cough, fever and fatigue. There is some evidence that fewer people with omicron lose their taste and smell.

Should I be worried about getting the COVID-19 Omicron variant?

While some have suggested that most people will eventually get the coronavirus, you should do your best to avoid infection with Omicron—there is no justification for deliberately getting infected so you have what you think will be a mild illness that will provide you with more immunity going forward, the doctors say.

When was the Omicron variant of COVID-19 detected in the U.S.?

The B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant, first detected in November 2021, was responsible for a surge in U.S. infections with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, during December 2021–January 2022 (1).

How contagious is the COVID-19 Delta variant?

Delta is believed to be more than twice as contagious as previous variants, and studies have shown that it may be more likely than the original virus to put infected people in the hospital.

What happened to the Delta variant of COVID-19 in the U.S.?

On April 14, 2022 the U.S government SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG) downgraded Delta from a Variant of Concern to a Variant Being Monitored. This new classification was based on the following: Significant and sustained reduction in its national and regional proportions over time.

Does the Omicron COVID-19 variant cause more severe disease?

Omicron infection generally causes less severe disease than infection with prior variants. Preliminary data suggest that Omicron may cause more mild disease, although some people may still have severe disease, need hospitalization, and could die from the infection with this variant.

What is the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus?

The delta variant is a strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the delta variant was first identified in India in December 2020, and it was detected in the United States in March 2021.

Is the Delta variant more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19?

People infected with the Delta variant have roughly 1,000 times more copies of the virus in their respiratory tract than those infected with the original strain of COVID-19. Those who are fully vaccinated are much less likely than those who are unvaccinated to contract and spread the Delta variant, but it does happen.

Can you contract COVID-19 through sexual intercourse?

Although there is currently no evidence that the COVID-19 virus transmits through semen or vaginal fluids, it has been detected in the semen of people recovering from COVID-19. We would thus recommend avoiding any close contact, especially very intimate contact like unprotected sex, with someone with active COVID-19 to minimize the risk of transmission

What is the incubation period of the COVID-19 variant?

Omicron is now the most dominant strain of coronavirus in the U.S., and its incubation period may be shorter than those of previous variants. Research is just beginning. But some scientists who've studied Omicron and doctors who've treated patients with it suggest the right number might be around 3 days.

Is Delta more transmissible than the Alpha COVID-19 variant?

It's estimated that Delta caused more than twice as many infections as previous variants—in Connecticut, it was estimated to have been 80 to 90% more transmissible than the Alpha variant.

Is there a difference in spread between the Omicron and Delta COVID-19 variant?

The Omicron variant spreads more easily than earlier variants of the virus that cause COVID-19, including the Delta variant. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection, regardless of vaccination status or whether or not they have symptoms, can spread the virus to others.

Where was the Omicron COVID-19 variant first detected?

On November 24, 2021, South Africa reported the identification of a new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.529, to the World Health Organization (WHO).

B.1.1. 529 was first detected in specimens collected on November 11, 2021 in Botswana and on November 14, 2021 in South Africa.

Did the Omicron variant cause a spike in cases of COVID-19?

The Omicron variant caused an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in South Africa—cases went from 300 a day in mid-November to 3,000 a day at the end of that month. It's also been identified in at least 185 countries, according to the New York Times COVID-19 tracker.

Is the Delta COVID-19 variant more severe than the Omicron?

Health experts say that Omicron generally causes milder symptom than previous variants. But the death count is high because Omicron spreads quickly and is infecting a large number of people.

When was Omicron first discovered?

Omicron was first identified in Botswana and South Africa in November—although later reports showed earlier cases in the Netherlands. The first case in the U.S. was reported on Dec.

1 of last year in California.

Does the COVID-19 booster vaccine protect against the Omicron variant?

In adult populations, the protection conferred by two vaccine doses against Covid-19 wanes (more against milder infection than against severe disease) and is lower for omicron than for delta. However, a booster dose increases protection, including protection against omicron.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine prevent you from getting the Omicron variant?

Vaccines can protect against severe disease, hospitalization, and death from Omicron. Doctors stress that it's important to get vaccinated and get your booster.

Is lower back pain associated with the omicron COVID-19 variant?

A report from South Africa's largest health insurer found that a sore throat, congestion, dry cough and lower back pain ranked among the most common early omicron symptoms.

What is the incubation period for the Omicron COVID-19 strain?

“Originally, it could be” five to six days or even “up to 14 days before a person might manifest symptoms after getting infected. “That time seems to be lower, around two to three days after exposure to developing symptoms,” Dr. Parodi added.