Table 2.

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

Lineage	Variant Name	Characteristics
B.1.1.7	501Y.V1	First detected in Britain in December 2020 and about 50% more infectious.
B.1.351	501Y.V2	First identified in South Africa in December 2020 and shown the ability to reduce vaccine effectiveness leading to suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
P.1	501Y.V3	First identified in Brazil in November 2020 with a similar mutation to B.351.
B.1.427, B1.429	CAL.20C	Found to be 20% more infectious, common in California. It carries the L452 mutation but does not appear to spread rapidly like B.1.1.7.
B.1.617	G/452R.V3	First detected in Maharashtra, India on 5 October 2020.