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Latest evidence on COVID-19

This section is aimed at assisting public health professionals and is based on an ongoing rapid review of the latest evidence.

Clinical characteristics

Symptoms and signs, severity, complications of COVID-19 infection.

Coronaviruses

General background of SARS-CoV-2 and virus evolution.

Diagnostic testing and screening

Diagnostic specimens, antibody testing, storage and shipping of specimens, testing methods and genetic characterisation of SARS-CoV-2, detection of variant viruses, neutralisation assays and antigenic characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 and biosafety.

Immune responses and immunity

Immune responses (cell-mediated immune response and antibody-mediated immune response and protective immunity) and population immunity

Infection

Incubation period, pathology and pathogenesis, viral shedding, and co-infections and secondary infections.

Risk factors and risk groups

Severity of COVID-19 is associated with increased age, male sex, and pre-existing medical conditions.

SARS-CoV-2 in children

Information about SARS-CoV-2 incidence in children, susceptibility and the severity of the disease for children and child vaccination.

Treatment and pharmaceutical prophylaxis

Several medicinal products have been studied or are currently undergoing clinical trials to assess their safety and efficacy as potential agents for pharmaceutical prophylaxis or treatment of COVID-19.

Vaccines

Information on COVID-19 vaccines availability, effectiveness and safety.

Page last updated 5 Oct 2021

Latest risk assessment

Publication

Assessment of the further spread and potential impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern in the EU/EEA, 19th update

Risk assessment -

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) is rapidly replacing SARS-CoV-2 Delta in most European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries, and is broadly following a west-to-east progression.

Assessment of the further spread and potential impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern in the EU/EEA, 19th update - EN - [PDF-1.33 MB]

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