COVID-19

The novel human coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China, in 2019. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19 causes mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, particularly affecting the respiratory system. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is highly transmissible, spreading easily from person-to-person through respiratory droplets and aerosols from an infected individual. This virus has continued to evolve over the course of the pandemic which has been monitored through whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2. Genomic surveillance in humans and animals has allowed for improved understanding of transmission within and between species and in Ontario allowed for the detection of a deer-to-human transmission event.