Decision on non-conveyance of patients suspected of COVID-19 in a novel arrangement with assessment visits by paramedics at home.

Background: During the first weeks of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the North Denmark emergency medical services authorised paramedics to assess patients suspected of COVID-19 at home, and then decide if conveyance to a hospital was required. The aim of this study was to describe the cohort of patients who were assessed at home and their outcomes in terms of subsequent hospital visits and short-term mortality.

Methods: This was a historical cohort study in the North Denmark Region with consecutive inclusion of patients suspected of COVID-19 who were referred to a paramedic's assessment visit by their general practitioner or an out-of-hours general practitioner.