Scientists in the United Kingdom will track the spread of the coronavirus and watch for emerging mutations. At least 281 people have died from the virus in the UK.

The government announced that researchers will use gene sequencing to analyze the strains causing the infections across the country, by collecting samples from patients in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“This virus is one of the biggest threats our nation has faced in recent times, and crucial to helping us fight it, is understanding how it is spreading”, said Sharon Peacock, director of Public Health England’s national infection service.

The PHE will co-lead the $23 million project, called the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium, together with the National Health Service, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, which specialises in genetic research, and other institutions.

“Genomic sequencing will help us understand COVID-19 and its spread. It can also help guide treatments in the future and see the impact of interventions”, said Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser.

“Right now, the important questions we can help answer with sequencing are to help understand the role of international importations into the UK”, said Nick Loman, a professor of microbial genomics and bioinformatics at Birmingham University.

“All viruses accumulate mutations over time, some faster than others. For Covid-19, this has only just begun – but this emerging variation can be tracked in detail”, said Paul Klenerman, a professor at Oxford University who will be involved in the work.