Extensive Covid testing has helped stop the spread of asymptomatic among Marine Corps recruits, the study says.

Extensive Covid-19 testing helps prevent asymptomatic spread among nearly 2,000 Marines, and frequent testing helps contain the virus, according to a new federal-sponsored study. Provided more evidence.

Dr. Stuart Sirphon, lead author of the paper and neurologist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. According to Sinai of New York City, the study shows that public health measures need to be complemented by extensive testing to control the coronavirus.

“All of these infection control measures need to be implemented as appropriately as possible and should be supplemented or integrated with as many and frequent tests as possible,” he said in a telephone interview. It was. “You can’t just rely on testing,” he added.

Many epidemiologists and public health experts have repeatedly called on the Trump administration to increase the availability of tests nationwide.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously exposed people who were infected but did not show symptoms “Not necessarily a test.” Agency in September Reversed that guidance, People who have no symptoms and are in close contact with the infected person say “test is needed”.

Since then, the Trump administration has dramatically increased the availability of rapid testing for asymptomatic people, especially in certain environments such as nursing homes and schools. However, the number of tests is well below what some epidemiologists and public health professionals say is needed to contain the virus.

A new study published Wednesday demonstrates the importance of frequent testing as a supplement to infection control measures, Sealfon said.

Funded by the Defense Health Agency, the Navy Medical Research Center, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the study found 1,848 Marines in basic training on Parris Island, South Carolina, from May 12 to July 15. Was investigated. The average age of the participants was 19 years. According to research.

Studies show that prior to entering basic training, recruits were first required to quarantine at home for two weeks and then placed on a university campus for two weeks of supervised quarantine. Before entering Parris Island, each recruit had to present a negative Covid-19 molecular test. After joining the company, new employees were required to comply with public health guidelines such as wearing masks and social distance.

To study the asymptomatic spread of the virus in a younger population, researchers used a nasal swab molecular test to do everything within 2, 7, and 14 days of arriving at Petis Island. The study states that it examined participants in the virus.

According to the survey, 16 new employees were Covid-19 positive at registration within 2 days of arrival, even though they had been quarantined for 4 weeks in advance. Studies show that another 24 were positive seven days after arriving at the base, and another 11 recruits were positive on the 14th day. Only 5 participants reported symptoms of Covid-19.

Another 26 recruits who did not participate in the study were virus-positive on day 14, the study said.

Ham van Bekel, a mountain geneticist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine on the Sinai Peninsula, has performed gene sequencing of the virus to better understand how the virus is spreading to the population. He found that the base had six separate infected clusters, despite all public health protocols implemented by the Marine Corps.

“It is very difficult to find all positive cases without frequent and extensive testing in this type of young adult cohort,” he said. “Therefore, we may miss cases because we only rely on symptom screening, social distance, and mask wearing guidelines.”

Lead author Sealfon said their findings are consistent with what the National Basketball Association experienced earlier this year when they tried to create a so-called bubble that could end the season. .. The NBA conducted daily Covid tests on all players and staff in the bubble to keep the virus away.

Sirphon added that universities should pay attention to their findings. Although he adhered to infection control protocols at marine bases, college students were less likely to be socially distant or wear masks, and frequent inspections became increasingly important, he said. ..

“Public health measures are very important, but they are not enough,” he said. “This is a tough virus. You can’t be vigilant.”