Fig. 1

Algorithms for SARS-CoV-2 testing during the study Period 1, Period 2 and Period 3. At the Emergency Department during Period 1 (A), patients with symptoms of COVID-19 were tested with RT-PCR and Infection prevention and control (IPC) precautions continued. During Period 2 (B), a rapid antigen detection (RAD) test for SARS-CoV-2 was added, which enabled diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection or discontinuation of IPC precautions for patients with low risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and negative test result. During Period 3 (C), the rapid POC RT-PCR Vita-PCR was introduced, and COVID-19 specific IPC precautions were ended for Vita-PCR negative patients regardless of symptoms. *Newly developed upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms, fever, nausea, diarrhoea, malaise, anosmia or recent close contact with a person with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. **Anosmia, fever with unknown origin, dyspnoea with unknown origin, cough or other respiratory symptoms and known contact with a COVID-19 case previous 7 days