Belgium’s Coronavirus barometer, scheduled to come on stream in less than a week, can be effective for monitoring the Omicron variant, according to virologist Marc Van Ranst, Belga news agency reports.
"This is a barometer that can function with Omicron,” Van Ranst commented on Friday evening on VTM NIEUWS, following the latest meeting of the Consultative Committee. “But let’s be clear: we’ll be entering a different dimension if it’s another, more serious Coronavirus, like the Delta variant for example.”
The barometer will become a reality on 28 January. It will start by showing a code red. “Everyone is stressing that there have not been any relaxations,” but in code red, there are many more possibilities than now, Van Ranst stated.
The barometer is expected to provide the sectors concerned, such as the events sector, hospitality industry and recreational activities, with improved forecasting and planning on the near future. A series of preventive measures will be linked to different parametres, but the final decision will lie with the Consultative Committee.
“There will still be discussions, but a whole series of details will already have been worked out,” the virologist said.
