SARS-CoV-2 genomic data and descriptive metadata from primary specimens collected in Manitoba, Canada during the COVID-19 outbreak

Viral genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from clinical specimens positive for SARS-CoV-2 collected in Manitoba, Canada as part of the Canadian COVID Genomics Network (CanCOGeN) initiative. CanCOGeN is a Genome Canada-led consortium of Canadian federal (Public Health Agency of Canada), provincial (Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network) and regional public health authorities and their healthcare partners, academia, industry, hospitals, research institutes and large-scale sequencing centres. The CanCOGeN initiative is a coordinated pan-Canadian network for large-scale sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and for establishing a national SARS-CoV-2 genomics database. CanCOGeN's main objectives are to identify and track transmission trends of SARS-CoV-2 at the regional, provincial, and national scale within the global context. The CanCOGeN sequencing efforts will also support epidemiological SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigations while monitoring the evolving viral characteristics that may influence the sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics testing, clinical outcomes, and transmission, the effectiveness of public health measures, treatments and vaccines.