ArticleArchives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique2022
COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Belgian nursing homes: results of a surveillance conducted between April and December 2020.
Article in Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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12 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Uncovering the toll of the first three COVID-19 waves: excess mortality and social patterns in Belgium.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2024Article
- The DAWN antivirals trial: process evaluation of a COVID-19 trial in general practice.BJGP open · 2024Article
- Translating the COVID-19 epidemiological situation into policies and measures: the Belgian experience.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
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- Change in COVID19 outbreak pattern following vaccination in long-term care facilities in Flanders, Belgium.Vaccine · 2022Article
- Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in nursing facilities and the impact of their clusters in a Japanese core city.Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy · 2022Article
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- Factors influencing the adoption and participation rate of nursing homes staff in a saliva testing screening programme for COVID-19.PloS one · 2022Article
- Regular monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 carriage and antibody levels against the virus helped maintain social interactions for Alzheimer's disease residents in a Belgian nursing home during the pandemic.Journal of Alzheimer's disease reportsArticle
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20 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn Belgium, the first COVID-19 death was reported on 10 March 2020. Nursing home (NH) residents are particularly vulnerable for COVID-19, making it essential to follow-up the spread of COVID-19 in this setting. This manuscript describes the methodology of surveillance and epidemiology of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Belgian NHs.
methodsA COVID-19 surveillance in all Belgian NHs (n = 1542) was set up by the regional health authorities and Sciensano. Aggregated data on possible/confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and case-based data on deaths were reported by NHs at least once a week. The study period covered April-December 2020. Weekly incidence/prevalence data were calculated per 1000 residents or staff members.
resultsThis surveillance has been launched within 14 days after the first COVID-19 death in Belgium. Automatic data cleaning was installed using different validation rules. More than 99% of NHs participated at least once, with a median weekly participation rate of 95%. The cumulative incidence of possible/confirmed COVID-19 cases among residents was 206/1000 in the first wave and 367/1000 in the second wave. Most NHs (82%) reported cases in both waves and 74% registered ≥10 possible/confirmed cases among residents at one point in time. In 51% of NHs, at least 10% of staff was absent due to COVID-19 at one point. Between 11 March 2020 and 3 January 2021, 11,329 COVID-19 deaths among NH residents were reported, comprising 57% of all COVID-19 deaths in Belgium in that period.
conclusionsThis surveillance was crucial in mapping COVID-19 in this vulnerable setting and guiding public health interventions, despite limitations of aggregated data and necessary changes in protocol over time. Belgian NHs were severely hit by COVID-19 with many fatal cases. The measure of not allowing visitors, implemented in the beginning of the pandemic, could not avoid the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the NHs during the first wave. The virus was probably often introduced by staff. Once the virus was introduced, it was difficult to prevent healthcare-associated outbreaks. Although, in contrast to the first wave, personal protective equipment was available in the second wave, again a high number of cases were reported.
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