Effectiveness of telephone-based screening and triage during COVID-19 outbreak in the promoted primary healthcare system: a case study in Ardabil province, Iran.

Aims: Screening services for early detection of patients is one of the important capabilities of the health system with a proper referral system. In the crisis of respiratory infection of Covid-19, screening based on symptoms is one of the key measures. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the telephone-based screening and triage services in the promoted primary healthcare system with regard to the Covid-19 outbreak, in terms of reducing unnecessary referrals to the hospital.