A wedding in rural Maine led to the state's largest #covid19 outbreak. The screening for the party was symptom and temperature checks. The presumed index case showed symptoms the day after the ceremony. Remember- spread is also *presymptomatic*
bostonglobe.com/2020/08/29/nat…
bostonglobe.com/2020/08/29/nat…
2/ In all, half of the attendees became ill. An elderly couple were infected by a wedding guest-- the wife unfortunately passed away.
A jail 220 miles away had an outbreak from one of the wedding attendees.
This article tells the story of one outbreak...
A jail 220 miles away had an outbreak from one of the wedding attendees.
This article tells the story of one outbreak...
3/ But it really tells the story of how outbreaks happen.
They happen when you least expect it-- when you think you've taken enough precaution; they spread quickly, and affect people far and near.
The best we can do is follow the basics consistently.
They happen when you least expect it-- when you think you've taken enough precaution; they spread quickly, and affect people far and near.
The best we can do is follow the basics consistently.
4/ This wedding outbreak happened from a crowded, indoor party.
Avoid indoor socializing whenever possible.
Avoid extended close face to face contact for prolonged periods of time (multiple minutes).
Avoid crowding.
Wear masks.
Stick to these basics consistently.
Avoid indoor socializing whenever possible.
Avoid extended close face to face contact for prolonged periods of time (multiple minutes).
Avoid crowding.
Wear masks.
Stick to these basics consistently.
5/ This is also another example where rapid antigen testing could have helped, because in theory it should be able to detect highly infectious cases & could have prevented an infectious index case from ever entering the wedding.
washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/0…
washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/0…
6/ This outbreak happened in rural Maine, where community transmission was low.
But low transmission is not the same as no transmission, & most places will likely not reach *no* transmission.
What this means is that outbreaks like this can theoretically happen anywhere.
But low transmission is not the same as no transmission, & most places will likely not reach *no* transmission.
What this means is that outbreaks like this can theoretically happen anywhere.
7/ The lower community transmission that is achieved, the lower the probability of an outbreak like this happening.
It could still happen, but the more we test; the faster we trace/isolate, the more controlled future outbreaks will be, which is the key.
It could still happen, but the more we test; the faster we trace/isolate, the more controlled future outbreaks will be, which is the key.
7/ sharing additional outbreak here — even with controlled community transmission,
-close contact
-closed spaces
-crowds
can lead to a major spreading event ⬇️
-close contact
-closed spaces
-crowds
can lead to a major spreading event ⬇️
