Assessing SARS-CoV-2 Variant Evolution in Patients

Mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, have caused different waves of infection around the world but whether they actually cause more severe disease is unclear. We will determine which mutations are associated with more severe disease in a large population cohort and specifically in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia severe enough to require a breathing machine. We will also determine if the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates during the long period of active infection in patients with severe COVI-19 pneumonia.