Are COVID-19 variants named after brain wave frequencies?

Both COVID-19 variants and brain wave frequencies are named using letters from the Greek alphabet, but the names have no connection.

As news about the delta COVID-19 variant made headlines, posts circulated online falsely claiming that variants were being named after brain waves or frequencies. Some posts falsely claimed this was part of a secret conspiracy to control humans through technology.

But the delta variant, which was first discovered in India and is known for being more transmissible than other variants, did not get its name as part of a plot to control brains.

The delta variant was named after the World Health Organization announced in May it would change its system for labeling variants and use the Greek alphabet to avoid tying them to locations.

The Greek alphabet is often used for naming purposes in math and science.