Benchmarking Mutation Type of SARS-CoV-2's Different Variants and Their Relationship with Infectiousness

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fueled by the highly transmissible and mutable SARS-CoV-2 virus, has disrupted global health, economies, and daily life since late 2019. The virus's capacity to mutate into novel variants poses significant challenges to prevention and control efforts, altering its transmissibility, virulence, and potential for immune evasion. Monitoring the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants is crucial as they may differ in transmissibility, disease severity, and impact on healthcare systems. Furthermore, mutant strains can compromise vaccine effectiveness, necessitating continuous surveillance to inform public health interventions and ensure the efficacy of preventive measures. This study underscores the importance of tracking variant dissemination to anticipate and mitigate the evolving threat posed by SARS-CoV-2.