Analysis of the Epidemiological Situation

• Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Martinique (early March 2020) through July 26, 280 people have tested positive for the virus, including 82 since May 18 (the date the new surveillance system was implemented). Of these 82 patients, 69 have a history of travel, 12 have no history of travel, and 1 is currently under investigation;

• Over the past two weeks (W29* and W30**), 16 people tested positive out of 3,661 tested, corresponding to an average positivity rate of 0.44% (0.39% in W29* and 0.49% in W30**);

• The incidence rate*** was 2.23 per 100,000 inhabitants in S29* and also in S30**. This indicator has therefore remained stable during this period;

• In primary care, for the past 10 weeks, the proportion of consultations for acute respiratory infections reported by doctors in the sentinel network and attributable to COVID-19 has been zero. In Week 30**, 4 visits for suspected COVID-19 were conducted by SOS Médecins (the same as the previous week), representing 0.5% of the association’s coded activity (Figure 4). This activity is stable;

• At the hospital level, the proportion of COVID-19 activity in the adult emergency department at the Martinique University Hospital was 0.3% in Week 29* and 0.1% in Week 30**. Activity is low, below 1% for the past 10 weeks. In intensive care, eight patients were admitted to the ICU over the past seven weeks as part of the secure medical evacuation protocol. These were patients from French Guiana and Haiti, admitted with severe or moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Given the epidemiological context characterized by low viral circulation and controlled management measures to date, Martinique remains at a limited vulnerability level. Since the lifting of lockdown restrictions (May 13) and to date, the majority of positive patients are cases with a history of travel prior to SARS-CoV-2 detection.
In Guadeloupe, the first cluster was identified on July 24, linked to a temporary gathering of people. As of July 30, it accounts for 18 confirmed cases.
One case residing in Martinique, linked to this cluster, has been biologically confirmed as SARS-CoV-2. Control measures surrounding this patient were immediately implemented.
The situation must therefore be closely monitored in the coming days given the risk of spread.

*Week S29: July 13–19,
2020**Week S30: July 20–26,
2020*** Number of new cases reported per 100,000 inhabitants