Here is an early warning system for the next surge of coronavirus variants When it comes to public health, it’s time to integrate genome sequencing with infectious disease tracking. We won’t have to wait for a surge. Text Size: A+ Genomic surveillance programs have let scientists track the coronavirus over the course of the pandemic. By testing patient samples, researchers are able to diagnose COVID-19. But they’re also able to use genetic changes in the virus to recreate its travel routes and identify the emergence of new viral variants. By connecting genetic change with the appearance of new clusters of disease, our research suggests how genome surveillance can provide a new early warning of what’s to come. Daily reports on how the virus is evolving could sound the alarm before case numbers explode.