Evaluating the prevalence and burden of rectal SARS-CoV-2 shedding in the Danish population

The purpose of the project is to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 patients in Denmark who shed SARS-CoV-2 rectally. Based on earlier studies from China, it is expected that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in stool samples or rectal swabs in more than 50% of Danish COVID-19 patients. All patients who are referred to North Denmark Regional Hospital and the Children's Ward at Aalborg University Hospital will - in addition to receiving a throat swab - be screened for virus through a rectal swab. Furthermore, the project will monitor all admitted patients to find out for how long coronavirus is secreted through the respiratory passages as well as rectally. The project will also examine if rectal swabs can be used to reduce the number of false-negative test results and thereby minimize the risk of placing COVID-19 patients in open wards rather than isolating them.