Early Introduction and Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant, New York, New York, USA.

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has become dominant in most countries and has raised significant global health concerns. As a global commerce center, New York, New York, USA, constantly faces the risk for multiple variant introductions of SARS-CoV-2. To elucidate the introduction and transmission of the Omicron variant in the city of New York, we created a comprehensive genomic and epidemiologic analysis of 392 Omicron virus specimens collected during November 25-December 11, 2021. We found evidence of 4 independent introductions of Omicron subclades, including the Omicron subclade BA.1.1 with defining substitution of R346K in the spike protein. The continuous genetic divergence within each Omicron subclade revealed their local community transmission and co-circulation in New York, including both household and workplace transmissions supported by epidemiologic evidence. Our study highlights the urgent need for enhanced genomic surveillance and effective response planning for better prevention and management of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Genome Evolution and Early Introductions of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Mexico.

A new variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), named Omicron (Pango lineage designation B.1.1.529), was first reported to the World Health Organization by South African health authorities on 24 November 2021. The Omicron variant possesses numerous mutations associated with increased transmissibility and immune escape properties. In November 2021, Mexican authorities reported Omicron's presence in the country. In this study, we infer the first introductory events of Omicron and the impact that human mobility has had on the spread of the virus. We also evaluated the adaptive evolutionary processes in Mexican SARS-CoV-2 genomes during the first month of the circulation of Omicron. We inferred 160 introduction events of Omicron in Mexico since its first detection in South Africa; subsequently, after the first introductions there was an evident increase in the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 during January. This higher prevalence of the novel variant resulted in a peak of reported cases; on average 6 weeks after, a higher mobility trend was reported. During the peak of cases in the country from January to February 2022, the Omicron BA.1.1 sub-lineage dominated, followed by the BA.1 and BA.15 sub-lineages. Additionally, we identified the presence of diversifying natural selection in the genomes of Omicron and found six non-synonymous mutations in the receptor binding domain of the spike protein, all of them related to evasion of the immune response. In contrast, the other proteins in the genome are highly conserved; however, we identified homoplasic mutations in non-structural proteins, indicating a parallel evolution.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Police Legitimacy with a Focus on Ethnic–Racial Minorities

This special issue examines the study of legitimacy with a focus on racial–ethnic minority relationships in criminal justice system. The violent and senseless death of George Floyd in the United States on 25 May 2020 has galvanized the recent international Black Lives Matter movement and represented one of the many tragedies in the history of the global racialized criminal justice system, Canada included. The criminal justice system of Canada has a disturbing and problematic history of oppression and colonialism. Against this historical backdrop, however, Canada has been able to develop its own research on a number of key themes, voice these concerns on scientific grounds, and pave its own way towards a more inclusive multicultural future. The special issue is part of the efforts during the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, which witnessed a short invocation of police emergency powers in Ottawa. (English) [ FROM AUTHOR] Ce numéro spécial s'intéresse aux études sur la légitimité du point de vue particulier des relations avec les minorités raciales et ethniques au sein du système de justice pénale. La mort violente et gratuite de George Floyd, le 25 mai 2020 aux États-Unis, a galvanisé le récent mouvement Black Lives Matter sur la scène internationale;c'est l'une des nombreuses tragédies qui marquent l'histoire d'une justice pénale racialisée partout dans le monde, y compris au Canada. Le système de justice pénale canadien, en effet, a un passé troublant et problématique d'oppression et de colonialisme. Mais sur cet arrière-plan historique, le Canada a su cultiver des recherches sur de nombreux sujets primordiaux, formuler leurs problématiques en s'appuyant sur des données scientifiques et ouvrir lui-même sa voie vers un avenir plus inclusif et multiculturel. Ce numéro spécial est le fruit de ces efforts appliqués aux circonstances extraordinaires de la pandémie de COVID-19, au cours de laquelle le pays a eu recours, brièvement, à la Loi sur les mesures d'urgence à Ottawa. (French) [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Canadian Journal of Criminology & Criminal Justice is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Unrecognized introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into the US state of Georgia shaped the early epidemic.

In early 2020, as diagnostic and surveillance responses for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ramped up, attention focused primarily on returning international travelers. Here, we build on existing studies characterizing early patterns of SARS-CoV-2 spread within the USA by analyzing detailed clinical, molecular, and viral genomic data from the state of Georgia through March 2020. We find evidence for multiple early introductions into Georgia, despite relatively sparse sampling. Most sampled sequences likely stemmed from a single or small number of introductions from Asia three weeks prior to the state's first detected infection. Our analysis of sequences from domestic travelers demonstrates widespread circulation of closely related viruses in multiple US states by the end of March 2020. Our findings indicate that the exclusive focus on identifying SARS-CoV-2 in returning international travelers early in the pandemic may have led to a failure to recognize locally circulating infections for several weeks and point toward a critical need for implementing rapid, broadly targeted surveillance efforts for future pandemics.

Expanding into new product lines in response to COVID-19: The interplay between firm age and performance aspirations

Unprecedented environmental shocks, like the outbreak of COVID-19, sometimes trigger firms to adjust to the new environment, by expanding quickly into new—relevant to the shock—product lines, as a means to capitalize on the booming demand of urgently needed supplies. This study examines the role of firm corporate liabilities, as the ones enclosed to firm age, in influencing the number of new product lines a firm introduces in response to the pandemic, and its reaction time to the shock. The way in which performance aspirations interfere in these managerial decisions is also examined. In testing hypotheses, we employ a novel multivariate matching approach, namely entropy balancing, which allows researchers to create balanced samples and accounts for the existence of non-random factors influencing the results. Using a sample of 973 manufacturers that introduced new product lines in response to COVID-19, our hypotheses, positively linking firm age to product line introductions, and negatively to response time to the environmental shock, are supported. Our results indicate that for firms with higher levels of performance above industry average, the positive influence of firm's age on the number of new product lines introduced is weaker than for firms with lower levels of performance above industry average.

Assessing Spread and Impacts of Non-native Plants from Highway Corridors in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada

Species invasions are recognized as one of the leading threats to biodiversity globally and have been associated with declines in native species and changes in ecosystem function, disturbance regimes, species community composition and structure, and species interactions. Invasions are often strongly associated with human disturbances and increased propagule pressure. Thus, transportation corridors like roads, which experience ongoing disturbance as well as potentially large numbers of unintentional introductions of non-native plant propagules due to vehicular traffic, are often key pathways for the introduction and spread of non-native species into remote areas. Additionally, spread of non-native plants away from these anthropogenically-disturbed corridors into natural areas, including into natural disturbances in particular, is increasingly being documented. Here, Singer discusses the spread and impact of non-native plants and distinguishes between the different selection factors operating at each stage of the invasion process.

Genomic Analysis of Avian Infectious Bronchitis Viruses Recently Isolated in South Korea Reveals Multiple Introductions of GI-19 Lineage (QX Genotype).

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was first identified in the 1930s and it imposes a major economic burden on the poultry industry. In particular, GI-19 lineage has spread globally and has evolved constantly since it was first detected in China. In this study, we analyzed S1 gene sequences from 60 IBVs isolated in South Korea. Two IBV lineages, GI-15 and GI-19, were identified in South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that there were six distinct subgroups (KM91-like, K40/09-like, and QX-like I to IV) of the South Korean GI-19 IBVs. Among them, QX-type III and IV subgroups, which are phylogenetically different from those reported in South Korea in the past, accounted for more than half of the total. Moreover, the phylogeographic analysis of the QX-like subgroups indicated at least four distinct introductions of GI-19 IBVs into South Korea during 2001-2020. The efficacy of commercialized vaccines against the recently introduced QX-like subgroups should be verified, and continuous international surveillance efforts and quarantine procedures should be enhanced to prevent the incursion of viruses.

Transmission route and introduction of pandemic SARS-CoV-2 between China, Italy, and Spain.

We present a phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis of this new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus in this report. A tree of maximum credibility was constructed using the 72 entire genome sequences of this virus, from the three countries (China, Italy, and Spain) available as of 26 March 2020 on the GISAID reference frame. To schematize the current SARS-CoV-2 migration scenario between and within the three countries chosen, using the multitype bearth-death model implemented in BEAST2. Bayesian phylogeographic reconstruction shows that SARS-CoV-2 has a rate of evolution of 2.11 × 10-3 per sites per year (95% highest posterior density: 1.56 × 10-3 to 3.89 × 10-3 ), and a geographic origin in Shanghai, where time until the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) emerged, according to the analysis of the molecular clock, around 13 November 2019. While for Italy and Spain, there are two tMRCA for each country, which agree with the assumption of several introductions for these countries. That explains also this very short period of subepidermal circulation before the recent events. A total of 8 (median) migration events occurred during this short period, the largest proportion of which (6 events [75%]) occurred from Shanghai (China) to Spain and from Italy to Spain. Such events are marked by speeds of migration that are comparatively lower as compared with that from Shanghai to Italy. Shanghai's R0 and Italy's are closer to each other, though Spain's is slightly higher. All these results allow us to conclude the need for an automatic system of mixed, molecular and classical epidemiological surveillance, which could play a role in this global surveillance of public health and decision-making.

Early introductions and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 in the United States.

The emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7, first detected in the United Kingdom, has become a global public health concern because of its increased transmissibility. Over 2,500 COVID-19 cases associated with this variant have been detected in the United States (US) since December 2020, but the extent of establishment is relatively unknown. Using travel, genomic, and diagnostic data, we highlight that the primary ports of entry for B.1.1.7 in the US were in New York, California, and Florida. Furthermore, we found evidence for many independent B.1.1.7 establishments starting in early December 2020, followed by interstate spread by the end of the month. Finally, we project that B.1.1.7 will be the dominant lineage in many states by mid- to late March. Thus, genomic surveillance for B.1.1.7 and other variants urgently needs to be enhanced to better inform the public health response.

The role of case importation in explaining differences in early SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in Canada-A mathematical modeling study of surveillance data.

OBJECTIVE: The North American coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) epidemic exhibited distinct early trajectories. In Canada, Quebec had the highest COVID-19 burden and its earlier March school break, taking place two weeks before those in other provinces, could have shaped early transmission dynamics. METHODS: We combined a semi-mechanistic model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission with detailed surveillance data from Quebec and Ontario (initially accounting for 85% of Canadian cases) to explore the impact of case importation and timing of control measures on cumulative hospitalizations. RESULTS: A total of 1544 and 1150 cases among returning travelers were laboratory-confirmed in Quebec and Ontario, respectively (symptoms onset ≤03-25-2020). Hospitalizations could have been reduced by 55% (95% CrI: 51%-59%) if no cases had been imported after Quebec's March break. However, if Quebec had experienced Ontario's number of introductions, hospitalizations would have only been reduced by 12% (95% CrI: 8%-16%). Early public health measures mitigated the epidemic spread as a one-week delay could have resulted in twice as many hospitalizations (95% CrI: 1.7-2.1). CONCLUSION: Beyond introductions, factors such as public health preparedness, responses and capacity could play a role in explaining interprovincial differences. In a context where regions are considering lifting travel restrictions, coordinated strategies and proactive measures are to be considered.