Table 1.

Evolution of ED response through epidemic phases

Issues	Initial response	Late adaptation	Definitive set-up
Triage	Single	Separated	Separated
Triage criteria	Isolation for people with symptoms arriving from Wuhan and Hubei region	Isolation for people with symptoms arriving from the affected area in Italy	Isolation for people with suspected symptoms, no geographical limitations
Isolation rooms	4 to 6 in ED for suspected cases	24 on the floor for suspected cases	Four at ED for protection or immunodeficiency
Walk-in COVID patients	Direct to isolation rooms	Direct to isolation rooms	A dedicated area in ED with four rooms
Severe COVID patients	Direct to isolation rooms	A dedicated area in ED with four rooms	A dedicated area in ED
Non-COVID patients	Full ED	Waiting area repurposed with 14 beds	Previous isolation area with 8 bed places
PPE	Surgical mask, but full PPE only in isolation rooms	Full PPE everywhere	Full PPE everywhere
Swab waiting time	16 to 24 h	10 to 12 h	4 to 8 h
ED personnel	Normal set-up	Normal set-up in ED + Surgery Nurses and 2 ED doctors at floor	Normal staff in COVID ED + 2 nurses + other specialists (1 or 2 per shift) in walk-in area + Surgery Nurses and 2 ED doctors + 1 other specialist at floor