GROTON, Conn. - In early November, Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratoryâs (NSMRL) Hospital Corpsman Third Class Victoria Diaz returned from a three-month assignment at Parris Island, South Carolina where she assisted the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) with the COVID-19 Health Action Response for Marines (CHARM) study.
The CHARM study followed Marine recruits who underwent a two-week quarantine at a closed campus prior to boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Recruits who agreed to participate in the study provided nasal, saliva, and blood samples at several points throughout the two-week quarantine. These samples were tested to determine if the recruits had COVID-19 upon arrival at their designated quarantine location or if they contracted it during their quarantine. Participants also provided a brief health history along with demographic and risk-factor information.