Washington Ramps Up Efforts To Detect Coronavirus Variants

SHORELINE, WA — Washington is boosting efforts to identify new COVID-19 strains across the state and ramping up capacity at its Shoreline lab, the Department of Health announced Wednesday.

Public and private labs have genetically sequenced random samples since the early days of the pandemic, which helps researchers learn more about how the virus mutates as it moves through the community.

While mutations are common in all viruses, some "variants of concern" are more troublesome, with traits that make them spread easier or cause more serious illnesses. Washington's previous sequencing efforts successfully identified the B.1.1.7 variant, which earlier swept across the UK, and, most recently, the B.1.351 variant, previously linked to outbreaks in South Africa.

As of Feb. 24, state sequencing had revealed 39 cases of the UK variant and one case involving the South Africa strain.

"Like all viruses, COVID-19 constantly mutates as it spreads," DOH wrote Wednesday. "By combining sequencing data with data from case and contact investigations, we can better detect outbreaks, identify and track new and emerging variants, and determine the effectiveness of public health measures."

Washington is already in the top three states per capita for COVID-19 surveillance efforts, sequencing an estimated two percent of positive samples. The state's new goal is to hit five percent.

To accomplish that, the Department of Health is upgrading equipment at the public health lab in Shoreline with state-of-the-art tools, which could allow for sequencing thousands of samples every month.

"This is a whole different technology," said Philip Dykema, deputy director of microbiology at DOH. "This equipment uses nano technology to sequence molecules at a much higher rate of speed, while sequencing the whole strand from end-to-end."

Officials said the upgrades will prove invaluable for the state, even after the coronavirus pandemic is behind us. In the meantime, it will be key in helping state health officials gain a better understanding of where variants are gaining a foothold. Sequencing work also takes place at the University of Washington and the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center.

Washington's coronavirus trends have trended downward since early January, but public health leaders remain extremely concerned that outbreaks of more infectious strains could spur a damaging fourth wave before enough people are vaccinated. The UK variant is still expected to become dominant in much of the United States by the end of March.

Preventing a fourth wave is possible, officials say, if Washington continues to follow the same public health guidelines that defend against all strains for a little while longer:

• Wear a mask, even with people you see regularly and in your smallest social circles;
• Keep gatherings outside whenever possible
• Wear a mask while in the car with other people, including with family who do not live in your household
• Wash your hands often, don’t touch your face, and carry hand sanitizer for use when water and soap are not available
• Stay home if you are sick or if you have been exposed to COVID-19
• Get tested for COVID-19 if you have symptoms or were exposed to someone who tested positive
• Sign up for Washington Exposure Notifications. WA Notify is a free tool that alerts smartphone users if they have been exposed to COVID-19. The program does not share personal information or track where you go.