Genomic surveillance identifies SARS-CoV-2 transmission patterns in local university populations, Wisconsin, USA, 2020-2022.

Novel variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to emerge as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic extends into its fourth year. Understanding SARS-CoV-2 circulation in university populations is vital for effective interventions in higher education settings and will inform public health policy during pandemics. In this study, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 537 of 1717 SARS-CoV-2-positive nasopharyngeal/nasal swab samples collected over a nearly 20-month period from two university populations in Wisconsin, USA.