Fig. 3

The first plot shows the number of performed FITs in healthcare centers under supervision of SBMU over a 2-year period before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As could be driven from the first plot, the total number of performed FITs has decreased by 12.16% over the first 2 years after the onset of the pandemic in contrast to the 2 years before the pandemic. The second plot shows the number of individuals with positive alarm signs referred to healthcare centers under supervision of SBMU and the RIGLD center during 2 years before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The total number of patients with warning signs referred to the healthcare centers has decreased by 54.46% over the first 2 years after the onset of the pandemic in contrast to the 2 years before the onset of the pandemic. This decrease is 84.83% for patients with alarm signs referred to the RIGLD center for colonoscopy. As it is reflected on the third plot, the number of positive FITs in the healthcare centers during a 2-year interval after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased by 15.19% in contrast to the 2-year interval before the pandemic. This decrease is 85.77% for positive FITs referred to the RIGLD center for colonoscopy which is significantly higher than the percentage of the decrease is seen for patients with positive FIT in the healthcare centers. The rational for this difference is the possibility of at home FITs kits leading to a weaker effect of the COVID-19 on the number of positive FITs compared to the positive FITs referred to the RIGLD center for colonoscopy