AUTHOR=De Muylder Géraldine , Laisnez Valeska , Stefani Giulietta , Boulouffe Caroline , Faes Christel , Hammami Naïma , Hubin Pierre , Molenberghs Geert , Sans Jasper , van de Konijnenburg Cecile , Van der Borght Stefaan , Brondeel Ruben , Stassijns Jorgen , Lernout Tinne TITLE=Translating the COVID-19 epidemiological situation into policies and measures: the Belgian experience JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=12 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1306361 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1306361 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=

The COVID-19 pandemic led to sustained surveillance efforts, which made unprecedented volumes and types of data available. In Belgium, these data were used to conduct a targeted and regular assessment of the epidemiological situation. In addition, management tools were developed, incorporating key indicators and thresholds, to define risk levels and offer guidance to policy makers. Categorizing risk into various levels provided a stable framework to monitor the COVID-19 epidemiological situation and allowed for clear communication to authorities. Although translating risk levels into specific public health measures has remained challenging, this experience was foundational for future evaluation of the situation for respiratory infections in general, which, in Belgium, is now based on a management tool combining different data sources.