SARS-CoV-2 universal screening upon adult hospital admission in Southern Israel

As the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increased in the local community, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) universal screening was initiated for all adult patients admitted through the emergency departments (EDs) at Soroka University Medical Centre. Of 8518 patients screened, 288 (3.38%) tested positive. One hundred and thirty-three (46%) positive cases were asymptomatic and would have been admitted without necessary precautions. Patients with symptoms that may be attributable to COVID-19 were significantly older and were admitted through the medical ED. Patients of Bedouin Arab ethnicity accounted for half of those who tested positive, which was double their prevalence in the general population. These findings indicate that universal SARS-CoV-2 screening on adult hospital admission is crucial in areas with a high prevalence of COVID-19.