The COVID-19 outbreak on USS Theodore Roosevelt was a rare opportunity for detailed observation under controlled circumstances. The giant nuclear-powered Nimitz aircraft carrier was able to implement fast lock down in Guam harbor, when three sailors developed symptoms after shore leave. Our subsequent walk-down of the USS Theodore Roosevelt outbreak reveals a store lode of data.
The People Caught Up in the USS Theodore Roosevelt Outbreak
This was the first opportunity to review a major COVID-19 outbreak among a population of 4,900 young, healthy adults. CNN confirms over 1,156 crew (23%) tested positive during the event. Nearly 60% of crew developed antibodies. Some 59% of these later developed neutralizing ones that block infection.
Most infections were mild or symptom free. Patients who took preventative measures – face masks and social distancing – were less likely to catch the infection. However, some may have escaped detection because only symptom-based testing was initially available. CDC and U.S. Navy researched a sample of 382 service members present during the USS Theodore Roosevelt outbreak.
Major Findings among the 382 Service Members Sampled
The median age of the crew sample was thirty years, with 75% being male. The neutralizing bodies appeared more than 40 days after first infection. These have potential to prevent the virus from launching new attacks. Crew members who wore face masks were 56% likely to be infected, compared to 81% of those that did not.
Social distancing and avoiding common areas reduced the likelihood of infection from 70% to 55%. As a result only 238 of the 392 developed the disease. Their symptoms were loss of taste or smell, muscle pain, fever and chills. Only two of them transferred to hospital. One, a chief petty officer died.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt outbreak occurred in a secure environment. There were hence fewer opportunities to keep a safe distance from other people. This may be why the success of social distancing and face masks was less than we might otherwise have expected. Despite this, 77% of the overall crew escaped infection.
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Preview Image: Theodore Roosevelt Mess Deck
