Key Points

COVID-19

• In the Pays de la Loire region, the decline in SARS-CoV-2 transmission that began in Week 28 was confirmed and accelerated in Weeks 29–30. Hospital indicators also declined over the past two weeks.

• In week 30, the regional incidence rate was 381 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a 40% decrease compared to the previous week. The testing rate also decreased (-26% between Week 29 and Week 30), as did the positivity rate (-7 percentage points). The decline in virological indicators affected all departments in the region and all age groups.

• Regarding healthcare utilization, at the regional level, the number of emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 and the number of SOS Médecins calls for the same reason were significantly lower in weeks 29 and 30. New hospitalizations decreased in weeks 29 and 30, and new admissions to intensive care tended to stabilize in week 30 after a sharp decrease in week 29. Deaths among hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 appeared to begin a slight decline in weeks 29–30.

Extreme heat, heat wave

• Between July 16 and 20, 2022, the region was hit by a second intense heat wave, which affected all departments in the Pays de la Loire region (Météo-France website). Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, and Vendée were placed under a red alert during this heatwave, while Mayenne and Sarthe were under an orange alert. A moderate increase in healthcare utilization for heat-related conditions was observed in the region during this period.

Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya

Since May 1, 2022, number of confirmed cases of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika detected:

• Dengue: 1

• Chikungunya: 2