• Torsten Seemann, Courtney R Lane, Norelle L Sherry, Sebastian Duchene, Anders Gonçalves da Silva, Leon Caly, Michelle Sait, Susan A Ballard, Kristy Horan, Mark B Schultz, Tuyet Hoang, Marion Easton, Sally Dougall, Timothy P Stinear, Julian Druce, Mike Catton, Brett Sutton, Annaliese van Diemen, Charles Alpren, Deborah A Williamson, and Benjamin P Howden.
• Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
• Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 1; 11 (1): 4376.

AbstractGenomic sequencing has significant potential to inform public health management for SARS-CoV-2. Here we report high-throughput genomics for SARS-CoV-2, sequencing 80% of cases in Victoria, Australia (population 6.24 million) between 6 January and 14 April 2020 (total 1,333 COVID-19 cases). We integrate epidemiological, genomic and phylodynamic data to identify clusters and impact of interventions. The global diversity of SARS-CoV-2 is represented, consistent with multiple importations. Seventy-six distinct genomic clusters were identified, including large clusters associated with social venues, healthcare and cruise ships. Sequencing sequential samples from 98 patients reveals minimal intra-patient SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity. Phylodynamic modelling indicates a significant reduction in the effective viral reproductive number (Re) from 1.63 to 0.48 after implementing travel restrictions and physical distancing. Our data provide a concrete framework for the use of SARS-CoV-2 genomics in public health responses, including its use to rapidly identify SARS-CoV-2 transmission chains, increasingly important as social restrictions ease globally.

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