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SARS-CoV-2 Transmission among Marine Recruits during Quarantine | NEJM https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2029717#.X6yTHiwpVmM.twitter
This study uses molecular phylogenetic analysis to confirm that the infections happened within the platoons. It also questions, once more, the ability of symptom-based screening in detecting infection.
Less than 10% of recruits had any symptoms before testing positive. The study also identified very late infections (26 infections, 1.7% on day 14) during isolation/ quarantine suggesting that it may need to be longer than 2 weeks, which is concerning.
The fact that no infections were detected in 90% of infected recruits even with daily symptom monitoring is quite concerning.
This also is concerning: ârecruits were under the constant supervision of Marine Corps instructors. Other settings in which young adults congregate are unlikely to reflect similar adherence to measures intended to reduce transmission.â Think college campuses.
âDuring the supervised quarantine period, no SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified as a result of clinical testing performed because of symptom screening...
All cases of infection in recruits were diagnosed as a result of the scheduled qPCR testing performed on days 0, 7, and 14 (in study participants) and on day 14 (in nonparticipants).â
