Key Points

Infection with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19

In Brittany, the number of new confirmed cases continues to rise, particularly among those aged 15–44, but indicators of disease severity remain low (new hospitalizations and new ICU admissions), far from overwhelming the healthcare system as during the first wave. Nevertheless, vigilance is essential, particularly regarding adherence to preventive measures as the school year begins.

As of August 31, 2020, 6,139 confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been diagnosed by RT-PCR in the region since the start of the epidemic, including 862 in week 35 (unconsolidated data).

Virology: Low RT-PCR positivity rate at 2.1% in Week 35 (unconsolidated data) but rising since Week 33. Increase in the number of new cases diagnosed in Week 35 compared to Week 34 (+10.2% in the number of cases, with the number of tests performed remaining stable over the two weeks). The number of new cases diagnosed was highest in Ille-et-Vilaine between August 22 and 28, 2020. Between weeks 33 and 34, there was a significant increase in the number of tests performed. More than 41,069 RT-PCR tests were performed in week 35 in the region.

SI-VIC: The majority of current hospitalizations are in Ille-et-Vilaine. The majority of deaths since March 19 have occurred in Morbihan (35.7%) and Ille-et-Vilaine (33.1%).

ESMS: From March 1, 2020, through September 3, 511 facilities reported an outbreak, including 146 confirmed by one or more confirmed cases—residents or staff members—linked to COVID-19 in Brittany. These included 320 (63%) nursing homes (EHPAD) and 191 (37%) other medical-social facilities (EMS). The 511 reports corresponded to a total of 2,491 cases of COVID-19 (402 confirmed cases and 2,089 possible cases) among residents, of whom 262 were hospitalized. Among these possible and confirmed cases, 91 died in the facilities and 61 died in the hospital out of the total 511 reports; in the 146 facilities with a confirmed case, there were 72 deaths in the facility and 52 deaths in the hospital, respectively.

Oscour: In Week 35, 52 emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19 were reported by the Oscour® network, representing 0.4% of coded activity. Of these visits, 28.8% were reported among those aged 65 and older, 17.3% among those aged 45–64, 46.2% among those aged 15–44, and 7.7% among those under 15. In Week 35, 26 hospitalizations following emergency department visits for suspected coronavirus were recorded (3 fewer hospitalizations compared to Week 34). No hospitalizations in intensive care or resuscitation units following emergency department visits for suspected coronavirus were reported by Oscour in Week 35. In Week 36 (partial data), as of September 1, 2020, Breton emergency departments reported 25 visits for suspected COVID-19, representing 0.8% of total coded activity. Since early March and as of September 1, 2020, a total of 6,401 visits for suspected coronavirus have been recorded.

SOS Médecins: In week 35, the Breton SOS Médecins associations reported 84 cases of suspected COVID-19, representing 3.3% of total coded activity. Of these cases, 6.0% were reported among those aged 65 and older, 10.7% among those aged 45–64, 65.5% among those aged 15–44, and 17.9% among those under 15. In week 36 (partial data), as of September 1, 2020, the Breton SOS Médecins associations reported 50 cases of suspected COVID-19, representing 8.0% of total coded activity. From early March through September 1, 2020, a total of 2,455 SOS Médecins cases involving suspected coronavirus were recorded.