These are the Alpha or B.1.1.7, Beta or B1.2.351, Gamma, or P.1, and Delta or B.1.617.2.
According to scientists, all four variants have troubling mutations, and have been the root cause of clusters of illness.
To date, there have been 101 cases of the mutant stain, according to the COVID-19 variant tracking platform GISAID.
South Africa has reported 86 cases of the strain so far. Public Health England, which began monitoring the strain at the beginning of August, reiterated that the virus was not yet a cause for concern.