SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern as of 20 April 2023

ECDC regularly assesses new evidence on variants detected through epidemic intelligence, rules-based genomic variant screening, or other scientific sources. If a decision is made to add, remove, or change the category for any variant, the tables are updated to reflect this change. The tables are regularly sent for consultation to ECDC and WHO Regional Office for Europe’s joint virus characterisation working group. The rules-based genomic screening is performed using an open source algorithm. The weekly ECDC variant surveillance data report can be found in the weekly COVID-19 country overviews published on ECDC’s website.

A table with sub-lineages included for each monitored variant is available from here.

More information on variants is available on

• the variants tab on the country overviews
• the Omicron variant timeline

Description of the tables

The tables include:

Category: variant of concern (VOC), variant of interest (VOI), or variant under monitoring (VUM) (see definition above each table). Note that it is a possible for a VOC, VOI or VUM to also be a part of a broader VOC, VOI, or VUM definition, e.g. B.1.617.2+E484X is also a part of B.1.617.2, this means that there is enough evidence to fulfil the VOC, VOI or VUM criteria for this variant using the broader variant as a reference.

1. WHO label: As of 31st May 2021, WHO proposed labels for global SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants of interest to be used alongside the scientific nomenclature in communications about variants to the public. This list includes variants on WHO’s global list of VOC and VOI, and is updated as WHO’s list changes.
2. Lineage and additional mutations: the variant designation specified by one or more Pango lineages and any additional characteristic spike protein changes. An alternate description may be used if the variant is not easy to describe using this nomenclature. For updated information on Pango lineages and definition of lineages and for instructions on how to suggest new lineages, visit the Pango lineages website. Each lineage in then table is linked to the respective lineage page on the Pango lineages website.
3. Country first detected: only present if there is moderate confidence in the evidence relating to the first country of detection.
4. Spike mutations of interest: not all spike protein amino acid changes are included – this is not a full reference for assignment of the variants. It includes changes to spike protein residues 319-541 (receptor binding domain) and 613-705 (the S1 part of the S1/S2 junction and a small stretch on the S2 side), and any additional unusual changes specific to the variant.
5. Year and month first detected: as reported in the GISAID EpiCoV database. This can be adjusted backwards in time if new retrospective detections are made.
6. Evidence concerning properties in three different categories:
   • Transmissibility
   • Immunity
   • Infection severity
     Each category is annotated as increased, reduced, similar, unclear, or no evidence depending on the currently available evidence. Increased or reduced means that there is evidence demonstrating that the property is different enough for the variant compared to previously circulating variants that it is likely to have an impact on the epidemiological situation in the EU/EEA. Similar means that there is evidence that demonstrates that the property is not different enough for this variant compared to previously circulating variants that it is unlikely to have an impact. Unclear means that the current evidence is preliminary or contradictory enough to make the assessment uncertain. No evidence means that no evidence has yet been evaluated for this category. The evidence is further annotated with v or m to indicate whether the evidence is available for the variant itself (v) or for mutations associated with the variant (m).
7. Transmission in the EU/EEA: categorised as dominant, community, outbreak(s), and sporadic/travel. The categories are qualitative, and the assessment is based on surveillance data collected in TESSy, GISAID EpiCoV data, epidemic intelligence data, and direct communications with the affected countries.

Variants of Concern (VOC)

For these variants, clear evidence is available indicating a significant impact on transmissibility, severity and/or immunity that is likely to have an impact on the epidemiological situation in the EU/EEA. The combined genomic, epidemiological, and in-vitro evidence for these properties invokes at least moderate confidence. In addition, all the criteria for variants of interest and under monitoring outlined below apply.

As of 3 March 2023, ECDC has de-escalated BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 from its list of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC), as these parental lineages are no longer circulating. ECDC will continue to categorise and report on specific SARS-CoV-2 sub-lineages in circulation that are relevant to the epidemiological situation.

Variants of Interest (VOI)

For these variants, evidence is available on genomic properties, epidemiological evidence or in-vitro evidence that could imply a significant impact on transmissibility, severity and/or immunity, realistically having an impact on the epidemiological situation in the EU/EEA. However, the evidence is still preliminary or is associated with major uncertainty. In addition, all the criteria for variants under monitoring outlined below apply.

x: including its sub-lineages (BN, CH and others). Omicron-Omicron Recombinants XBF and XBK that share the same spike as BA.2.75 are monitored under BA.2.75 lineages

y: W152R, F157L, I210V, G257S, D339H, G446S, N460K, Q493 (reversion)

z: XBB and sub-lineages, excluding XBB.1.5-like lineages. Recombinant lineage of BJ.1 (BA.2.10.1.1) and BM.1.1.1 (BA.2.75.3.1.1.1)

a: Monitoring an umbrella of SARS-CoV-2 lineages that have similar Spike protein profiles and characterised by a specific set of mutations (S:Q183E, S:F486P and S:F490S). This umbrella includes, for instance, the lineages XBB.1.5, XBB.1.9.1*, XBB.1.9.2*, and XBB.1.16

All sub-lineages of the listed lineages are also included in the variant

Variants under monitoring

These additional variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected as signals through epidemic intelligence, rules-based genomic variant screening, or preliminary scientific evidence. There is some indication that they could have properties similar to those of a VOC, but the evidence is weak or has not yet been assessed by ECDC. Variants listed here must be present in at least one outbreak, detected in a community within the EU/EEA, or there must be evidence that there is community transmission of the variant elsewhere in the world.

x: Delta (21I) / BA.2 recombinant. Omicron spike with Delta backbone

n/a: not applicable

De-escalated variants

These additional variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been de-escalated based on at least one the following criteria: (1) the variant is no longer circulating, (2) the variant has been circulating for a long time without any impact on the overall epidemiological situation, (3) scientific evidence demonstrates that the variant is not associated with any concerning properties.

x: A67V, Δ69-70, T95I, G142D, Δ143-145, N211I, Δ212, ins215EPE, G339D, S371L, S373P, S375F, K417N, N440K, G446S, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, G496S, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, T547K, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, N856K, Q954H, N969K, L981F

y: G142D, N211I, Δ212, V213G, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, T376A, D405N, R408S, K417N, N440K, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, N764K, D796Y, Q954H, N969K

z: A67V, Δ69-70, Δ143-145, N211I, Δ212, G339D, S371F, S373P, S375F, D405N, K417N, N440K, G446S, S477N, T478K, E484A, Q493R, Q498R, N501Y, Y505H, D614G, H655Y, N679K, P681H, D796Y, Q954H, N969K

n/a: not applicable, no WHO label has been assigned to this variant at this time

All sub-lineages of the listed lineages are also included in the variant, e.g., B.1.429.1 is included in B.1.427/B.1.429 as it is a sub-lineage of B.1.429.

(a) No assessment of transmission is given for variants in the monitoring category, only detected/not detected.

(b) The earliest detections from several different countries are close in time and there is no clearly demonstrated travel link to a specific country that explains the detections.

(c) The property of concern for this variant was the fact that there are reports of difficulties associated with detecting it in upper respiratory tract samples. These difficulties were not caused by primer-template mismatch but rather by the virus not being present in sufficient quantities in the upper respiratory tract.

(d) Any amino acid substitution

See changes from previous weeks

Geographic scope of the tables

The tables are based on genomic, phenotypic, and epidemiological evidence available on a global scale, but focus on the potential impact for the European region. For this reason, the list may deviate slightly from the global variants of concern and interest list and labels produced by WHO and published in the WHO weekly epidemiological update.

More on this topic

1. UK Health Security Agency. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England. Technical Briefing 35: UKHSA; 2022 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
2. Lyngse FP, Kirkeby CT, Denwood M, Christiansen LE, Mølbak K, Møller CH, et al. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC subvariants BA.1 and BA.2: Evidence from Danish Households. medRxiv. 2022:2022.01.28.22270044.
3. UK Health Security Agency. COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report week 6 2022 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
4. Fonager J, Bennedbæk M, Bager P, Wohlfahrt J, Ellegaard KM, Ingham AC, et al. Molecular epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron BA.2 sub-lineage in Denmark, 29 November 2021 to 2 January 2022. Eurosurveillance. 2022;27(10):2200181.
5. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England - Technical briefing 39: UKHSA; 2022 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
6. Khan K, Karim F, Ganga Y, Bernstein M, Jule Z, Reedoy K, et al. Omicron sub-lineages BA.4/BA.5 escape BA.1 infection elicited neutralizing immunity. medRxiv. 2022:2022.04.29.22274477.
7. Cao Y, Yisimayi A, Jian F, Song W, Xiao T, Wang L, et al. BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 escape antibodies elicited by Omicron infection. bioRxiv. 2022:2022.04.30.489997.
8. Hansen CH, Friis NU, Bager P, Stegger M, Fonager J, Fomsgaard A, et al. Risk of Reinfection, Vaccine Protection, and Severity of Infection with the BA.5 Omicron Subvariant: A Danish Nation-Wide Population-Based Study. . SSRN [Preprint]. 2022.
9. Cao Y, Song W, Wang L, Liu P, Yue C, Jian F, et al. Characterization of the enhanced infectivity and antibody evasion of Omicron BA.2.75. Cell Host Microbe. 2022;30(11):1527-39 e5.
10. Kurhade C, Zou J, Xia H, Liu M, Chang HC, Ren P, et al. Low neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 by parental mRNA vaccine or a BA.5 bivalent booster. Nat Med. 2023;29(2):344-7.
11. Davis-Gardner ME, Lai L, Wali B, Samaha H, Solis D, Lee M, et al. Neutralization against BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB from mRNA Bivalent Booster. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(2):183-5.
12. Qu P, Evans JP, Faraone JN, Zheng YM, Carlin C, Anghelina M, et al. Enhanced neutralization resistance of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BQ.1, BQ.1.1, BA.4.6, BF.7, and BA.2.75.2. Cell Host Microbe. 2023;31(1):9-17 e3.
13. Yue C, Song W, Wang L, Jian F, Chen X, Gao F, et al. ACE2 binding and antibody evasion in enhanced transmissibility of XBB.1.5. Lancet Infect Dis. 2023;23(3):278-80.
14. Arora P, Kempf A, Nehlmeier I, Schulz SR, Jack HM, Pohlmann S, et al. Omicron sublineage BQ.1.1 resistance to monoclonal antibodies. Lancet Infect Dis. 2023;23(1):22-3.
15. Wang Q, Iketani S, Li Z, Liu L, Guo Y, Huang Y, et al. Alarming antibody evasion properties of rising SARS-CoV-2 BQ and XBB subvariants. Cell. 2023;186(2):279-86 e8.
16. Dewald F, Pirkl M, Ahmadov E, Paluschinski M, Kühn J, Elsner C, et al. Impaired humoral immunity to BQ.1.1 in convalescent and vaccinated patients. medRxiv. 2023:2022.12.31.22284088.
17. UK Health Security Agency. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England. Technical Briefing 49: UKHSA; 2023 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
18. Tamura T, Ito J, Uriu K, Zahradnik J, Kida I, Nasser H, et al. Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB variant derived from recombination of two Omicron subvariants. bioRxiv. 2022:2022.12.27.521986.
19. Arora P, Cossmann A, Schulz SR, Ramos GM, Stankov MV, Jack HM, et al. Neutralisation sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1 lineage. Lancet Infect Dis. 2023;23(2):147-8.
20. Uriu K, Ito J, Zahradnik J, Fujita S, Kosugi Y, Schreiber G, et al. Enhanced transmissibility, infectivity, and immune resistance of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron XBB.1.5 variant. Lancet Infect Dis. 2023;23(3):280-1.
21. Qu P, Faraone JN, Evans JP, Zheng Y-M, Carlin C, Anghelina M, et al. Extraordinary Evasion of Neutralizing Antibody Response by Omicron XBB.1.5, CH.1.1 and CA.3.1 Variants. bioRxiv. 2023:2023.01.16.524244.
22. Luoma E, Rohrer R, Parton  H, Hughes  S, Omoregie E, Taki F, et al. Notes from the Field: Epidemiologic Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant Variant XBB.1.5 — New York City, November 1, 2022–January 4, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72:212–214.
23. Davies NG, Abbott S, Barnard RC, Jarvis CI, Kucharski AJ, Munday JD, et al. Estimated transmissibility and impact of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 in England. Science. 2021;372.
24. Davies NG, Jarvis CI, van Zandvoort K, Clifford S, Sun FY, Funk S, et al. Increased mortality in community-tested cases of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7. Nature. 2021.
25. Jangra S, Ye C, Rathnasinghe R, Stadlbauer D, Alshammary H, Amoako AA, et al. SARS-CoV-2 spike E484K mutation reduces antibody neutralisation. The Lancet Microbe.
26. Collier DA, De Marco A, Ferreira IATM, Meng B, Datir RP, Walls AC, et al. Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 to mRNA vaccine-elicited antibodies. Nature. 2021.
27. Deng X, Garcia-Knight MA, Khalid MM, Servellita V, Wang C, Morris MK, et al. Transmission, infectivity, and antibody neutralization of an emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant in California carrying a L452R spike protein mutation. medRxiv. 2021.
28. Santé Publique France. Nouveau variant détecté et sous surveillance en Bretagne 2021 [updated 2021-03-16. Available from: https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/presse/2021/nouveau-variant-detecte-….
29. Shu Y, McCauley J. GISAID: Global initiative on sharing all influenza data – from vision to reality. Eurosurveillance. 2017;22(13):30494.
30. Zhao X, Zheng A, Li D, Zhang R, Sun H, Wang Q, et al. Neutralisation of ZF2001-elicited antisera to SARS-CoV-2 variants. Lancet Microbe. 2021.
31. England PH. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England. Technical briefing 11 2021 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
32. Tut G, Lancaster T, Krutikov M, Sylla P, Bone D, Kaur N, et al. Profile of Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to Single BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 Vaccine in Residents and Staff Within Residential Care Homes (VIVALDI Study). Preprints with The Lancet2021.
33. Tada T, Zhou H, Dcosta BM, Samanovic MI, Mulligan MJ, Landau NR. The Spike Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 and B.1.618 Variants Identified in India Provide Partial Resistance to Vaccine-elicited and Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies. bioRxiv. 2021.
34. Hoffmann M, Hofmann-Winkler H, Krüger N, Kempf A, Nehlmeier I, Graichen L, et al. SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617 is resistant to Bamlanivimab and evades antibodies induced by infection and vaccination. bioRxiv. 2021.
35. Yadav PD, Sapkal GN, Abraham P, Ella R, Deshpande G, Patil DY, et al. Neutralization of variant under investigation B.1.617 with sera of BBV152 vaccinees. bioRxiv. 2021.
36. Liu Z, VanBlargan LA, Bloyet L-M, Rothlauf PW, Chen RE, Stumpf S, et al. Identification of SARS-CoV-2 spike mutations that attenuate monoclonal and serum antibody neutralization. Cell Host & Microbe. 2021;29(3):477-88.e4.
37. Tegally H, Wilkinson E, Giovanetti M, Iranzadeh A, Fonseca V, Giandhari J, et al. Detection of a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern in South Africa. Nature. 2021;592(7854):438-43.
38. Cele S, Gazy I, Jackson L, Hwa S-H, Tegally H, Lustig G, et al. Escape of SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 from neutralization by convalescent plasma. Nature. 2021.
39. Madhi SA, Baillie V, Cutland CL, Voysey M, Koen AL, Fairlie L, et al. Efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Covid-19 Vaccine against the B.1.351 Variant. New England Journal of Medicine. 2021.
40. Pearson CA. Estimates of severity and transmissibility of novel South Africa SARS-CoV-2 variant 501Y.V2  [Available from: https://cmmid.github.io/topics/covid19/reports/sa-novel-variant/2021_01….
41. Greaney AJ, Loes AN, Crawford KHD, Starr TN, Malone KD, Chu HY, et al. Comprehensive mapping of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain that affect recognition by polyclonal human plasma antibodies. Cell Host & Microbe. 2021;29(3):463-76.e6.
42. Haynes WA, Kamath K, Lucas C, Shon J, Iwasaki A. Impact of B.1.1.7 variant mutations on antibody recognition of linear SARS-CoV-2 epitopes. medRxiv. 2021:2021.01.06.20248960.
43. Johnson BA, Xie X, Kalveram B, Lokugamage KG, Muruato A, Zou J, et al. Furin Cleavage Site Is Key to SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis. bioRxiv. 2020.
44. Acevedo ML, Alonso-Palomares L, Bustamante A, Gaggero A, Paredes F, Cortés CP, et al. Infectivity and immune escape of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest Lambda. medRxiv. 2021.
45. Tada T, Zhou H, Dcosta BM, Samanovic MI, Mulligan MJ, Landau NR. SARS-CoV-2 Lambda Variant Remains Susceptible to Neutralization by mRNA Vaccine-elicited Antibodies and Convalescent Serum. bioRxiv. 2021.
46. UK Health Security Agency. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England (Technical briefing 31) 2021 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
47. Lyngse FP, Mortensen LH, Denwood MJ, Christiansen LE, Møller CH, Skov RL, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC Transmission in Danish Households. medRxiv. 2021:2021.12.27.21268278.
48. Faria NR, Mellan TA, Whittaker C, Claro IM, Candido DdS, Mishra S, et al. Genomics and epidemiology of the P.1 SARS-CoV-2 lineage in Manaus, Brazil. Science. 2021.
49. Dejnirattisai W, Zhou D, Supasa P, Liu C, Mentzer AJ, Ginn HM, et al. Antibody evasion by the P.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2. Cell. 2021.
50. Public Health England. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England Technical briefing 12 2021 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
51. Jamie Lopez Bernal NA, Charlotte Gower, Eileen Gallagher, Dr Ruth Simmons, Simon Thelwall, Julia Stowe, Elise Tessier, Natalie Groves, Gavin Dabrera, Richard Myers, Vanessa Saliba, Shamez Ladhani, Coli, Campbell, Gayatri Amirthalingam, Matt Edmunds, Maria Zambon, Kevin Brown, Susan Hopkins, Meera Chand, Mary Ramsay. Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the B.1.617.2 variant 2021 [Available from: https://khub.net/documents/135939561/430986542/Effectiveness+of+COVID-1….
52. Sheikh A, McMenamin J, Taylor B, Robertson C. SARS-CoV-2 Delta VOC in Scotland: demographics, risk of hospital admission, and vaccine effectiveness. The Lancet.
53. Stowe J, Andrews N, Gower C, Gallagher E, Utsi L, Simmons R, et al. Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against hospital admission with the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant 2021 [Available from: https://khub.net/documents/135939561/479607266/Effectiveness+of+COVID-1….
54. Public Health England. SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England Technical briefing 16 2021 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
55. Hui KPY, Ho JCW, Cheung M-c, Ng K-c, Ching RHH, Lai K-l, et al. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant replication in human bronchus and lung ex vivo. Nature. 2022;603(7902):715-20.
56. Rössler A, Knabl L, Laer Dv, Kimpel J. Neutralization profile of Omicron variant convalescent individuals. medRxiv. 2022:2022.02.01.22270263.
57. Altarawneh HN, Chemaitelly H, Hasan MR, Ayoub HH, Qassim S, AlMukdad S, et al. Protection against the Omicron Variant from Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection. N Engl J Med. 2022.
58. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Assessment of the further spread and potential impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern in the EU/EEA, 19th update 2022 [Available from: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/RRA-19-update-….
59. Ferguson N, Ghani A, Hinsley W, Volz E, team obotICC-r. Report 50: Hospitalisation risk for Omicron cases in England 2021 [Available from: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/mrc-gida/202….
60. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England. Technical briefing: Update on hospitalisation and vaccine effectiveness for Omicron VOC-21NOV01 (B.1.1.529) UKHSA; 2021 [Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uplo….
61. Cao Y, Jian F, Wang J, Yu Y, Song W, Yisimayi A, et al. Imprinted SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity induces convergent Omicron RBD evolution.