What questions can whole genome sequencing answer that RT-PCR cannot?

Brunker et al, 2020

https://gyazo.com/8f6389d18fdbb24a3bdc59d19be5aac3

Grubaugh et al, 2019

https://gyazo.com/12f2e5e1d58f6347ce38c76b1fdfb682

These include what is the virus, is it novel, or does it represent the re-emergence of a known pathogen; what is its mode of transmission; where does the emerging virus come from (in particular, what is its reservoir host and/or geographic source); what ecological factors underpin its emergence; how many introductions into humans have there been; what is the timing of these introduction events, and was there a period of undetected transmission before the first reported case; during flare-ups and future outbreaks, how are they connected to previous events; and what is the nature of virus evolution and is there evidence for local adaptation?

@kcorazo 1/ If RT-PCR is like a pregnancy test, viral sequencing is like an ultrasound. https://twitter.com/kcorazo/status/1259683517228703746