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Latest evidence on COVID-19

Coronaviruses

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

Risk factors and risk groups

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

Transmission

Coronaviruses are mainly transmitted from person to person via respiratory droplets, either by being inhaled or deposited on mucosal surfaces, including aerosols produced when coughing and speaking.

Infection

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

Clinical characteristics

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

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

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

Threat Assessment Brief: Implications of the emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1. 529 variant of concern (Omicron) for the EU/EEA

Risk assessment -

A SARS-CoV-2 variant belonging to Pango lineage B.1.1.529, with a high number of S-gene mutations compared to the original virus was detected at the beginning of November 2021. On 26 November 2021 the variant was designated a variant of concern (VOC) and assigned the label Omicron by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Threat Assessment Brief: Implications of the emergence and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1. 529 variant of concern (Omicron) for the EU/EEA - EN - [PDF-252.43 KB]

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