October 8, 2020

Analysis of Genomic Characteristics and Transmission Routes of Patients With Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in Southern California During the Early Stage of the US COVID-19 Pandemic

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Geographic Spread

Keywords (Tags): genomics, transmission

• In a case series of 192 patients from Los Angeles, a genomic analysis found that 82% of SARS-CoV-2 isolates were most similar to isolates from Europe, while 15% were most similar to isolates from Asia. Genetic characterization of isolates identified community transmission in 13 patients, including 10 related to skilled nursing facilities, while person-to-person transmission was detected in a cluster of 5 patients. These findings highlight the utility of genomic analyses to detect transmission chains and determine the origin of viral introductions.

Zhang et al. (Oct 7, 2020). Analysis of Genomic Characteristics and Transmission Routes of Patients With Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in Southern California During the Early Stage of the US COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.24191