Guidance production before evidence generation for critical issues: the example of COVID-19

摘要

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has inflicted a considerable pressure on populations, healthcare systems and community organisations worldwide, due to the fast spread of the disease and its huge global burden of morbidity and mortality, healthcare resource consumption, and societal and economic implications [1]. Since its appearance in December 2019, it has become rapidly obvious that this new disease behaves very differently from previously known viral pneumonias in terms of risk factors, biological, radiological and clinical presentation, natural course and response to therapy [2], making specific research and clinical guidance mandatory to understand the disease, deliver appropriate care and support public health decisions.