COVID-19 Monitoring and Response Among U.S. Air Force Basic Military Trainees - Texas, March-April 2020

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in substantial morbidity and mortality since it was first described in December 2019 (1). Based on epidemiologic data showing spread in congregate settings (2-4), national, state, and local governments instituted significant restrictions on large gatherings to prevent transmission of disease in early March 2020. This and other nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have shown initial success in slowing the pandemic across the country (5). This report examines the first 7 weeks (March 1-April 18) of implementation of NPIs in Basic Military Training (BMT) at a U.S. Air Force base. In a population of 10,579 trainees, COVID-19 incidence was limited to five cases (47 per 100,000 persons), three of which were in persons who were contacts of the first patient. Transmission of symptomatic COVID-19 was successfully limited using strategies of quarantine, social distancing, early screening of trainees, rapid isolation of persons with suspected cases, and monitored reentry into training for trainees with positive test results after resolution of symptoms.

FIGURE

Cumulative number of tested trainees with respiratory symptoms and positive test results for SARS-CoV-2 or other respiratory viruses and interventions implemented — Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, March 1–April 18, 2020 Abbreviation: BMT = basic military training. * Rhinovirus or enterovirus (five cases), parainfluenza (three cases), metapneumovirus (two cases), and influenza B virus, (two cases).