COVID-19 and gastrointestinal endoscopy in Belgium : uncertainty and ambiguity

The world is currently facing a deadly COVID-19 pandemic caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus, and Belgium is no exception with a daily death rate still increasing (written April 2020) (1). Although it is considered a viral airway infection with aerosol droplet transmission, gastrointestinal involvement with faecal-oral transmission is also possible (2). Therefore, all endoscopic procedures in both upper and lower gastrointestinal tract carry an increased risk of viral transmission from infected patients to all personnel in the endoscopy room (endoscopist, endoscopy nurse, trainee, anaesthesiologist, anaesthesiology nurse,...). The risk of viral transmission due to endoscopy being rapidly recognized, has led to the swift development of position statements and guidelines on protective measures world-wide in order to control viral transmission by gastrointestinal endoscopy (3). As of 18 March 2020 the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) released a position statement with safety guidelines to prevent COVID-19 transmission in endoscopy units (4).

Keywords: COVID-19, endoscopy, pandemic.