World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe2020-12-152020-12-152020-12-15WHO/EURO:2020-1610-41361-56329https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/33768638 p.As there currently is no licensed vaccine available against the type of novel coronavirus that causes COVID19 and treatment options are limited, public health and social measures (PHSMs) are important means of suppressing the transmission of COVID-19. This paper introduces a methodology – the PHSM Severity Index – for capturing, coding, visualizing and analysing PHSM responses to COVID-19 in countries across the WHO European Region. The PHSM Severity Index captures the types, severity and timing of PHSMs implemented by a country across six main indicators. By providing standardized data on PHSM implementation, the PHSM Severity Index can support and inform the development of policy at country and regional levels. The paper aims to present the dataset and methodology as foundations for further studies. As the situation evolves, future iterations of the Index may include further indicators, more nuanced versions of existing indicators, further coding principles and revisions of the index formula.enCC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGOhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igoBetacoronavirusDisease OutbreaksPublic HealthEpidemicsDisease Transmission, InfectiousCommunicable Diseases, EmergingCOVID-19Technical DocumentsWorld Health Organization