22/04/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission on Wednesday 22 April exonerated itself from any responsibility for the different counting methods applied by Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Member States are accounting for the large number of deaths on their territory using a different method of calculation, such as Belgium, which includes deaths of unknown cause on its balance sheet. Asked whether the Commission should impose a single method of calculation, a spokesperson for the institution said that the EU is providing as much guidance and encouragement as possible. “But health is in the domestic jurisdiction. In the end, we have to work with the authorities in the Member States, and it is up to them to act”, replied Stefan de Keersmaecker, pointing out that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is currently working on this issue, which is also being discussed by the Health Security Committee. (SPj)