Key Points

COVID-19

• Virology: Virological indicators of COVID-19 infection remained stable in Week 03 compared to the previous week. A total of 64,719 PCR tests and 11,057 antigen tests were performed in Week 03 (unconsolidated data). In Week 03, the incidence rate was 100.8 per 100,000 inhabitants with a positivity rate of 4.5% (Week 02: incidence rate of 96.5 per 100,000 with a positivity rate of 4.3%).

• Variants: 15 confirmed cases of the emerging variant 20I/501Y.V1.

• SI-VIC: On January 26, 2021, there were 656 hospitalizations in Brittany, including 41 in intensive care. The majority of hospitalizations were in Ille-et-Vilaine (50.6%). There was an increase in hospitalizations compared to the previous week, particularly in Ille-et-Vilaine (+18.1%; increase in the number of deaths: +7.5%) and in Finistère (+20.4%; increase in the number of deaths: +4.1%).

• ESMS: From March 1, 2020, through January 28, 1,123 facilities reported an outbreak, including 682 confirmed by one or more confirmed cases—residents or staff members—linked to COVID-19 in Brittany. These included 683 (61%) nursing homes for the elderly (EHPAD) and 440 (39%) other medical-social facilities (EMS). The total of 1,123 reports corresponded to a total of COVID-19 cases (3,039 confirmed cases and 7,486 possible cases) among residents, of whom 658 were hospitalized. Among these possible and confirmed cases, 257 died in the facilities and 151 died in the hospital out of the total 1,123 reports; in the 682 facilities with a confirmed case, there were 241 deaths in the facility and 142 deaths in the hospital, respectively.

• Oscour: Stability in the number of emergency room visits in Week 03 (179 versus 178 in Week 02). The hospitalization rate is, however, increasing, with 63% of visits resulting in hospitalization in Week 03 (versus 48% in Week 02). SOS Médecins: Stable number of SOS Médecins consultations in Week 03 (100 versus 97 consultations in Week 02).

• Intensive Care: Among the cases reported by sentinel intensive care units (180 cases), 73% were men and the median age was 69 years. The majority (88%) had at least one comorbidity. The most common were obesity (41%), hypertension (33%), diabetes (28%), and heart disease (28%).

• COVID-19 Vaccination: As of January 26, 2021 (data from January 27, 2021), 60,840 people in Brittany had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, including 35% men and 65% women. In France, 1,130,753 people have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (data by date of administration, CNAM COVID-19 vaccine data, analyzed by Santé publique France). It is thus estimated that 1.8% of the population of Brittany and 1.7% of the French population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Bronchiolitis

Low activity, lower than in previous years.

• Oscour®: Stable trend over the past few weeks with a decrease in the number of emergency room visits compared to the previous week. Bronchiolitis accounted for 3.1% of emergency room visits among children under 2 years of age in week 03.

• SOS Médecins: Slight increase in indicators compared to the previous week. Bronchiolitis accounted for 3.7% of consultations among children under 2 years of age in week 03.

• Virology data: Circulation of RSV (n=1 at the virology laboratory of the Brest University Hospital and 2 at the Rennes University Hospital laboratory).

Gastroenteritis

Activity lower than in previous years.

• Oscour®: Increase in the number of emergency room visits (66 visits) and the associated visit rate compared to the previous week. Children under 5 years of age accounted for 37.9% of cases.  SOS Médecins: Decrease in the number of consultations compared to the previous week (127 consultations versus 158 in Week 02).

• Sentinelles Network: Low to moderate activity, increasing in week 02: incidence rate of acute diarrhea estimated at 83 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI [44; 122], unconsolidated Sentinelles data).

• Virological data: No enteric viruses detected in Week 03 at the Brest University Hospital and the Rennes University Hospital.

Influenza

• Resumption of influenza surveillance since week 40.

• No influenza activity.

• No viruses detected in week 03.