BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) -- China's 30 provincial-level regions, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, as well as state-level organs such as the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, are fully capable of carrying out whole-genome sequencing of the COVID-19 virus, a health official said Thursday.

China has also improved the ability and training for COVID-19 gene sequencing, said Wu Liangyou, deputy head of the disease control and prevention division with the National Health Commission (NHC).

(Photo: Xinhua)

Gene sequencing of all imported cases and the first or early cases of local infections is one of the important steps for strengthening epidemic surveillance, the health official told a press conference.

"We dynamically monitor the situation in virus mutation through gene sequencing, providing a scientific basis for follow-up research involving the impact of virus mutation on pathogen detection and vaccine protection as well as adjusting prevention and control policies," Wu added.