<human>:  Are the Covid-19 virus variants considered more contagious or are they the same as the original?
<bot>: The Covid-19 virus variants are considered to be more contagious than the original version of the virus. Variants may possess mutations that allow the virus to spread more easily or cause more severe illness in those infected. It is important to monitor these variants closely, as they may spread more rapidly and require more aggressive measures of control.