Press Release - With its multiple variants such as Delta and Omicron, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for genomic surveillance, to monitor virus evolution and its implications on transmission dynamics and response measures like vaccines. Sequencing information provides crucial decision-making information during epidemics and pandemics. On 8-9 June 2022, WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office convened a meeting in Egypt with partner organizations and countries to discuss the framework for integrated respira