Summary

What is currently known about the situation in the Centre-Val de Loire region?

The outbreak began in the region in Eure-et-Loir with the first confirmed case on March 3. The last department to be affected was Indre on March 14. Community spread of the virus began in week 11 (March 9–15, 2020). In week 16 (April 13–19, 2020), the trend was downward for several indicators. The region showed a significant excess of all-cause mortality across all age groups between weeks 13 (March 23–29, 2020) and 16, with a peak in week 14 (March 30–April 5, 2020).

What’s new in this Update for the region?

In week 21 (May 18–24, 2020), the second week of the easing of lockdown measures, several COVID-19-related indicators being monitored are stable or continue to decline. Between the start of the easing of lockdown measures (May 11) and June 3, 93 COVID-19 clusters are under investigation in France, including 4 in the Centre-Val de Loire region (pages 2–3).
Virological surveillance relies on data transmitted by private and hospital laboratories, centralized within a national platform (SI-DEP). This new system enables the real-time collection of data on the number of patients tested and the number of SARS-CoV-2 positive tests, thereby allowing for monitoring of changes in the positivity rate and the incidence of the disease.

What are the public health implications in the region?

The epidemiological situation is closely monitored thanks to all healthcare stakeholders in the region (SOS Médecins associations, public and private healthcare facilities, laboratories, etc.), and the multiple surveillance systems that have been established with their cooperation.
Every day, a contextual analysis of the potential vulnerability of the regions, based on data from these systems, is conducted. This provides health authorities with a daily epidemiological assessment of the regional situation to track the evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic.
The Centre-Val de Loire Regional Health Agency issues a newsletter to warn, inform, and support healthcare providers and the public.
To date, the epidemiological situation remains fragile and depends on our collective ability to continue implementing the control measures put in place. The results achieved during the lockdown period were significant; it is therefore important to continue adhering to the rules and preventive measures.
This Weekly Epidemiological Update compiles all available indicators for monitoring the COVID-19 epidemic in the Centre-Val de Loire region.