The<unk>  variant, (B.1.351), is a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. One of several SARS-CoV-2 variants believed to be of particular importance, it was first detected in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa in October<unk> 020, which was reported by the country's health department on 18 December<unk> 020. Phylogeographic analysis suggests this variant emerged in the Nelson Mandela Bay area in July or August<unk> 020. The World Health Organization labelled the variant as<unk>  variant, not to replace the scientific name but as a name for the public to commonly refer to. The WHO considers it to be a variant of concern.
SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant
SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant
SARS-CoV-2 Gamma variant
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
SARS-CoV-2 Kappa variant
SARS-CoV-2 Lambda variant
SARS-CoV-2 Mu variant
SARS-CoV-2 Zeta variant