What are some of the new coronavirus variants that have caused the COVID-19 infection?

The World Health Organization (WHO) names new coronavirus variants using the letters of the Greek alphabet, starting with the Alpha variant, which emerged in 2020.

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 are some of the symptoms of the COVID-19 Omicron strain?

Both coronavirus variants had common symptoms such as runny nose, headache and sneezing, but debilitating symptoms such as brain fog, dizziness and fever were less prevalent in Omicron cases.

Why are there so many variants of the COVID-19 virus?

Coronavirus Mutation: Why does the coronavirus change? Variants of viruses occur when there is a change — or mutation — to the virus's genes. Ray says it is the nature of RNA viruses such as the coronavirus to evolve and change gradually.

Covid cases surge in Europe: BA.4, BA.5 variant drive rise in cases | International News | WION

Are there different types of coronaviruses other than COVID-19?

Coronaviruses didn't just pop up recently. They're a large family of viruses that have been around for a long time. Many of them can cause a variety of illnesses, from a mild cough to severe respiratory illnesses. The new (or “novel”) coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is one of several known to infect humans.

Can you be infected with multiple COVID-19 variants at once?

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.

What are some symptoms of the COVID-19 BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants?

According to experts, most of the symptoms of recent subvariant are the same as other strains of COVID, including a stuffy nose, body aches, sore throat, sneezing, headache, coughing, fatigue and more.

Is coughing a symptom of the Omicron COVID-19 variant?

Cough and fatigue also continue to be common symptoms for people with Omicron.

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.

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.

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.

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 the loss of smell and taste be a symptom of the COVID-19 Omicron variant?

Rates of smell and taste loss were 17% for Omicron, compared with 44% for Delta and 50% for Alpha, the investigators found. The study was published recently in the journal Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.

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.

Are dry coughs a symptom of COVID-19?

Dry coughs don't produce any mucus and can be hard to control. In fact, you may find it difficult to stop coughing once you start. A dry cough can occur due to exposure to irritants, or if you have allergies, asthma, croup, GERD, sinusitis or COVID-19.

How long could the COVID-19 virus linger in your body?

But for most infected people, virus levels in the body peak between three and six days after the original infection, and the immune system clears the pathogen within 10 days. The virus shed after this period is generally not infectious.

How long could you be contagious with COVID-19?

"Youve gotta stay home for five days because typically those first five days are when you are the most contagious," Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said. "But in those days six to 10, some people still can be spreading virus."

Can I have symptoms of COVID-19 and test negative?

Simply put: Depending on when you take a test, if you have COVID symptoms and receive negative results from an at-home, rapid test, the level of virus in your body could be too low to be detected by the test, at least at first.

Can you still test positive after recovering from COVID-19?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some people who contract COVID-19 can have detectable virus for up to three months, but that doesn't mean they are contagious. When it comes to testing, however, the PCR tests are more likely to continue picking up the virus following infection.

How many times can I get COVID-19?

'A long-term pattern' According to some infectious disease researchers, Covid-19 reinfections are likely to become more common as time goes on and different variants continue to circulate—with some people potentially seeing third or fourth reinfections within a year.

What is Paxlovid for COVID-19?

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets; ritonavir tablets) is a prescription oral antiviral drug that reduces the risk of hospitalization and death for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at risk of disease progression and severe illness (1).