Seven new highly contagious COVID-19 variants

Seven new highly contagious COVID-19 variants found across US. Seven new coronavirus variants have popped up in the US since last summer, according to a new study and scientists worry they may be more contagious. The mutations have been found by scientists across the country conducting genetic sequencing on positive COVID-19 tests.

They are:

• "Robin 1," which "is found in over 30 US states, but predominates in the Midwest," according to the study. It was first detected in August.
• "Robin 2," which was first found in a sample collected in early October in Alabama. Accordingly, it is most common in the Southeast.
• "Pelican," which was first detected in Oregon in late October. However, it has been found in 12 other states, and is the only variant of the seven thus far detected abroad, popping up on tests in Australia, Denmark, India and Switzerland.
• "Yellowhammer," which, like "Robin 2," is most common in the southeastern US. It first appeared in a sample from late November.
• "Bluebird," which first appeared in August and is most common in the Northeast.
• "Quail," which most commonly appears in opposing corners of the US, the Northeast and the Southwest. It was first detected in early October.
• "Mockingbird," first found in late November and prevalent in the south-central US, as well as along the East Coast.

However, an overwhelming majority of positive coronavirus samples are never genetically sequenced, so it’s unclear just how widespread the variants may actually be and where they originated.