Mutations are common and expected in coronaviruses genomes. Scientists can take advantage of these mutations to track the spread of the viruses in the community, providing vital public health information on the movement and potential sources of disease. To improve on the speed in generating this genetic information, this team will rapidly generate genetic sequences of over 1,900 of these viruses. They will also validate automated methods to rapidly sequence viral genomes at the Public Health Laboratory on an ongoing basis. This information will help public health better understand the dynamics of viral spread in Alberta, so that policies to stop disease spread can be used more effectively, as well as provide important information for diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine development.