SARS-CoV-2 transmission in an indoor mass-gathering live music event. A randomized clinical trial. (preprint)

The banning of mass-gathering indoor events to prevent SARS-CoV-2 spread cause an important impact on local economies. We designed a randomized-controlled open-label trial to assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive preventive intervention for a mass-gathering indoor event (a live concert) based on systematic screening of attendees with antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests, use of facial mask, and adequate air ventilation. According to a RT-PCR test performed on day 8 after the event, none of the 465 assistants in the experimental arm (i.e., event attendants) became infected by SARS-CoV-2 (observed incidence 0%; Bayesian estimated incidence 0.14%; 95%CI: 0% to 0.61%) versus 2 out of 495 controls (not entering into the event) (0.31%; 95%CI: 0.04% to 0.73%). No significant differences were observed between the estimated incidence in the two study arms. Our study provides evidence on the safety of indoor mass-gathering events conducted during a COVID-19 outbreak under a comprehensive preventive intervention. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04668625)

A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Hydroxychloroquine as Prevention of Covid-19 Transmission and Disease (preprint)

BackgroundCurrent strategies for preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections are limited to non-pharmacological interventions. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been proposed as a postexposure therapy to prevent Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) but definitive evidence is lacking. MethodsWe conducted an open-label, cluster-randomized trial including asymptomatic contacts exposed to a PCR-positive Covid-19 case in Catalonia, Spain. Clusters were randomized to receive no specific therapy (control arm) or HCQ 800mg once, followed by 400mg daily for 6 days (intervention arm). The primary outcome was PCR-confirmed symptomatic Covid-19 within 14 days. The secondary outcome was SARS-CoV-2 infection, either symptomatically compatible or a PCR-positive result regardless of symptoms. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed up to 28 days. ResultsThe analysis included 2,314 healthy contacts of 672 Covid-19 index cases identified between Mar 17 and Apr 28, 2020. A total of 1,198 were randomly allocated to usual care and 1,116 to HCQ therapy. There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of PCR-confirmed, symptomatic Covid-19 disease (6.2% usual care vs. 5.7% HCQ; risk ratio 0.89 [95% confidence interval 0.54-1.46]), nor evidence of beneficial effects on prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission (17.8% usual care vs. 18.7% HCQ). The incidence of AEs was higher in the intervention arm than in the control arm (5.9% usual care vs 51.6% HCQ), but no treatment-related serious AEs were reported. ConclusionsPostexposure therapy with HCQ did not prevent SARS-CoV-2 disease and infection in healthy individuals exposed to a PCR-positive case. Our findings do not support HCQ as postexposure prophylaxis for Covid-19. ClinicalTrials.gov registration numberNCT04304053