Abstract New York City (NYC) has emerged as one of the epicenters of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. To identify the early transmission events underlying the rapid spread of the virus in the NYC metropolitan area, we sequenced the virus causing COVID-19 in patients seeking care at the Mount Sinai Health System. Phylogenetic analysis of 84 distinct SARS-CoV2 genomes indicates multiple, independent but isolated introductions mainly from Europe and other parts of the United States. Moreover, we find evidence for community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 as suggested by clusters of related viruses found in patients living in different neighborhoods of the city.
Abstract
New York City (NYC) has emerged as one of the epicenters of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. To identify the early transmission events underlying the
rapid spread of the virus in the NYC metropolitan area, we sequenced the
virus causing COVID-19 in patients seeking care at the Mount Sinai Health
System. Phylogenetic analysis of 84 distinct SARS-CoV2 genomes indicates
multiple, independent but isolated introductions mainly from Europe and
other parts of the United States. Moreover, we find evidence for community
transmission of SARS-CoV-2 as suggested by clusters of related viruses found in patients living in different neighborhoods of the city.