Intervention
VIRUS, APPENDIX
Before the intervention period, nurses participated in a 1-h training session, including an educational lecture and a test demonstration. The centers that did not have the equipment were provided with the machines (Appendix C in During the intervention period, in addition to routine screening for symptomatic patients or inpatients, a questionnaire was offered to the remaining asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic patients. The paper-based questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 symptoms and risk exposure was offered to patients who could provide consent (Appendix A in During triage assessment, a rapid screening test by nasopharyngeal swabs was offered by nurses on a 24-h basis to all patients who completed the questionnaire. The type of test was chosen according to the symptoms recorded on the questionnaire (asymptomatic versus paucisymptomatic).Paucisymptomatic patients were defined as those with mild symptoms reported on the questionnaire that were not the reason for consultation or not spontaneously reported by the patient at registration.For paucisymptomatic patients, samples were tested with the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay QIAstat-Dx respiratory SARS-CoV-2 panel, further referred to as the rapid multiplex respiratory virus test, which detects 21 viruses and bacteria and provides results within 70 min [For asymptomatic patients, samples were tested with the Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 assay, an isothermal nucleic acid amplification assay based on a nicking and extension amplification reaction (NEAR) technique. The assay, further referred to as the rapid molecular SARS-CoV-2 test, targets the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene segment and provides results within 5 to 13 min [Nasopharyngeal swabs were tested directly, without dilution in viral transport medium.Patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test were cared for according to local procedures. During the intervention period, a clinical research assistant was on site 5 days a week to facilitate staff adherence and monitor data collection.