New variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, seem to be emerging on a constant basis. It's difficult to know what to think when you hear about them on the news.
In December, the Alpha variant, then known as the UK variant, appeared. In recent weeks, it’s been all about the Delta variant.
Now, news stories are popping up about the Lambda variant. But it’s just one of a large number of variants that scientists are monitoring.
As that list continues to grow, how worried should we be? Tracking variants The World Health Organization tracks SARS-CoV-2 variants with the help of officials and laboratories globally.