Government rushes virus gene-mapping as mutations spread
In this Feb. 10, 2021, photo, Jeff Zients, White House coronavirus response coordinator, attends a virtual meeting with mayors from the African American Mayors Association in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex. Scientists would gain vastly expanded capabilities to identify potentially deadlier mutations of the coronavirus under legislation advancing in Congress. The U.S. now maps only the genetic makeup of a minuscule fraction of positive virus samples, a situation some experts liken to flying blind. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

In this Feb. 10, 2021, photo, Jeff Zients, White House coronavirus response coordinator, attends a virtual meeting with mayors from the African American Mayors Association in the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex. Scientists would gain vastly expanded capabilities to identify potentially deadlier mutations of the coronavirus under legislation advancing in Congress. The U.S. now maps only the genetic makeup of a minuscule fraction of positive virus samples, a situation some experts liken to flying blind. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Feb. 17, 2021 12:00 AM EST
FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2020 file photo, Rochelle Walensky, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. The U.S. is scrambling to expand DNA mapping of coronavirus samples to identify potentially deadlier mutations starting to spread around the country.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

FILE - In this Dec. 8, 2020 file photo, Rochelle Walensky, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. The U.S. is scrambling to expand DNA mapping of coronavirus samples to identify potentially deadlier mutations starting to spread around the country.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Feb. 17, 2021 12:47 PM EST