Daily monitoring of COVID-19 infections (NIJZ CNB)

In accordance with the SARS-CoV-2 surveillance methodology, laboratory confirmed cases are covered with the date of the previous day. The number of reported cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection underestimates the number of real infections. Changing the number depends not only on changing the number of new infections, but also on changing testing recommendations and testing practices. Due to additional entries and verifications of data in the Infectious Diseases Record under the Health Care Databases Act (NIJZ 48 database), the data may be entered subsequently. As data are in a continuous process of collection and updating, the daily dynamics of data are therefore even more pronounced. From 1.2.2022 onwards, the time period is changed or the interval between two positive findings for SARS-CoV-2 infection is reduced from ≥ 90 to ≥ 45 days as a condition for re-recovery of the result in the NIJZ 48 database (re-infections). Since the start of surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 infections, the daily number of confirmed cases includes cases confirmed by PCR, and between 21.12.2020 and 12.2.2021 and 1.2.2022, the daily number of confirmed cases includes cases confirmed by PCR or HAGT. The National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) monitors data on the number of deaths through the system of official declaration of death from infectious disease. The daily number of deaths with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is one of the key indicators in the epidemiological surveillance of the COVID-19 epidemic. The official report of death under the Infectious Diseases Act is based on the clinical judgement of a doctor or coroner that an individual has died from COVID-19. In addition, the NIJZ monitors data on causes of death through the data source Medical Report on the deceased person. In order to keep up-to-date monitoring and reporting of deceased persons with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, due to limitations such as incomplete data reporting, time lag in obtaining data, additional follow-up enquiries about the deceased, we have established an adapted method of monitoring the number of deaths. DEFINITIONS A confirmed case of SARS-COV-2 infection for the purpose of epidemiological surveillance of the number of confirmed persons with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is: Person with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid present in a clinical specimen. OR A person who has a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen in a clinical specimen. A deceased person with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection for the purpose of epidemiological surveillance of the number of deceased persons with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is: death of a person with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection occurring within 28 days after the date of positive SARS-CoV-2 testing OR death of a person who tested for SARS-CoV-2 positive post-mortem (after death) AND the date of death is recorded in the CRPP.* The last seven days is a period of greater uncertainty about the data of the deceased. The data source of the Infectious Diseases Record under the Health Care Databases Act (ZZPPZ) (Report of Disease-Deaths for Infectious Diseases) has been used for the last seven days, provided that the deceased is not recorded in the Central Patient Data Register (CRPP).