J Korean Med Sci.  2020 Nov;35(42):e380. 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e380.

Universal Screening of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 with Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing after Rally of Trainee Doctors

Affiliations
  • 1Office for Infection Control, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 2Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

There were two rallies of medical students and trainee doctors, where 9,000 participants gathered. We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based universal screening for the participants using pooling at a tertiary care hospital. Around 609 (94%) of 646 participants underwent PCR tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; all of them tested negative. Our data suggested low transmission rates in open air mass gatherings when appropriate personal protective practices were followed.

Keyword

Mass Gathering; Rally; Universal Screening; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Reference

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