4.2. Limitations:
There was a potential for recall bias as some staff had tested positive up to 5 weeks prior to interview. Unfortunately, our sample size was limited due to many patients being unable to give informed consent owing to dementia, delirium or being critically unwell. Despite a small sample size, the preliminary data was large enough to conduct basic statistical analysis to advise an early change in local policy. Symptoms of OTDs were self-reported, and no objective testing was carried out to confirm or quantify these. Due to the sample size and cardinal symptoms needed for participants to have been tested, symptom associations although statistically significant need to be interpreted with caution.