The Consultation Committee will consider the advice of a brand new expert group next Friday. This new advisory council was put in place last Friday by Corona commissioner Pedro Facon and consists of 24 experts, 11 of whom are Dutch speakers.
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Infectiologist Erika Vlieghe, a Facon employee, will be in charge of the advisory body. She is assisted by almost all well-known corona scientists: Marc Van Ranst, Geert Molenberghs, Pierre Van Damme and Steven Van Gucht, among others.
There is no room for other experts, such as health economist Lieven Annemans or ex-post boss Johnny Thijs. They were part of Celeval, the previous advisory body, where they ardently advocated easing. The emergence of a second corona wave therefore blurred confidence in them as policy advisers.
In addition to the old faithful, some newcomers also present themselves in the new expert committee. Philippe Beutels (UAntwerpen) is the health economist on duty, Lode Godderis (KU Leuven) the occupational physician. Motivational psychologist Maarten Vansteenkiste will also sit around the table. Michel Thieren is a representative of the World Health Organization. Four vacant seats are still being allocated to the federal states. A last place has been reserved for a French-speaking epidemiologist.
THIS IS THE NEW EXPERT GROUP
Chairman
Infectiologist Erika Vlieghe (UAntwerp)
Medical experts
Virologist Marc Van Ranst (KU Leuven)
Infectiologist Steven Callens (UGent)
Infectiologe Benedicte Dela (UCL)
Biostatistiscus Niel Hens (UAntwerpen / UHasselt)
Infectiologist Christelle Meuris (CHU Liège)
Biostatistician Geert Molenberghs (KU Leuven)
Epidemiologist Pierre Van Damme (UAntwerpen)
Infectiologist Dimitri Van der Linden (UCL)
Infectiologist Yves Van Laethem (Superior Health Council)
Broader experts
Motivational psychologist Maarten Vansteenkiste (UGent)
Health economist Philippe Beutels (UAntwerpen)
Economist Mathias Dewatripont (ULB)
Health sociologist Lode Godderis (KU Leuven)
Expert Public Health Céline Nieuwenhuys (Secretary General at the Fédération des services sociaux)
Expert Public Health Isabelle Aujoulat (UCL)
Supplemented by
Representatives of the Sciensano Science Institute, including Steven Van Gucht
Representatives of the federal and regional health departments Representative World Health Organization (WHO)
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