Hoping to strike a fair and more comprehensible balance, WHO said it will now refer to the most worrisome variants — known as "variants of concern" — by letters in the Greek alphabet. So the first such variant of concern, which first appeared in Britain and can be also known as B.1.1.7, will be known as the "alpha" variant. The second, which turned up in South Africa and has been referred to as B.1.351, will be known as the "beta" variant. A third that first appeared in Brazil will be called the "gamma" variant and a fourth that first turned up in India the "delta" variant. Future variants that rise to "of concern" status will be labeled with subsequent letters in the Greek alphabet.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 31, 2021 23:12 UTC