Genetic variations of viruses, such as the one that causes COVID-19, are common and expected. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, will naturally develop mutations, which are changes to the genetic material in the virus over time. When there have been several significant mutations to the virus then it’s called a variant. A variant is of concern when it affects: disease spread disease severity tests used to detect the virus vaccines and treatments Monitoring the variants The Public Health Agency of Canada works with the provinces and territories, and other partners to monitor and identify variants of concern in Canada. Monitoring for genetic changes in the virus allows us to better understand the potential impact of the mutations. Overall, variants of concern represent the majority of recently reported COVID-19 cases across the country. Current variants of concern in Canada include: B.1.1.7 (Alpha) B.1.351 (Beta) P.1 (Gamma) B.1.617.2 (Delta) The B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant continues to account for the majority of variants in Canada. Evidence demonstrates that the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants are at least 50% easier to spread. As well, the P.1 (Gamma), B.1.351 (Beta) and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants each have certain mutations that may have an impact on vaccine effectiveness. However, the evidence is still limited. Variants of concern reported publicly in Canada About the new variants These new variants of concern include mutations that seem to make the virus more infectious, allowing it to spread more easily. They may also affect the severity of the disease. At this time, there’s evidence that some variants may have an impact on certain drugs and vaccines. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings. The variants don’t currently affect diagnosis through authorized laboratory tests. Given the limited data on the new variants, more research is needed to confirm these early findings. The Canadian and global medical, public health and research communities are actively evaluating these variants and other significant mutations.