Key Points

COVID-19

In the Grand Est region, the number of new cases rose in week 45 of 2021 (5,803 compared to 3,993 in week 44 of 2021), as did the number of people tested (159,500 in week 45 of 2021 compared to 133,132 in week 44 of 2021). The incidence rate has risen to 105.3 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants and remains above the threshold for active virus circulation (set at 50 per 100,000 inhabitants). The positivity rate, meanwhile, remains stable (3.6% compared to 3.0% in week 44 of 2021). It should be noted that the data presented here are unadjusted and therefore do not account for the reduced activity of medical laboratories due to the November 11 holiday. This may result in an underestimation of the number of new cases.

Viral circulation is on the rise across all age groups, with increases in incidence rates ranging from +28% for people aged 70 to 79 to +70% for children aged 0 to 9. Incidence rates range from 54.1 new cases per 100,000 people among those over 80 to 160.3 per 100,000 people among those aged 30–39.

Bronchiolitis

• OSCOUR®: In week 45 of 2021, the proportion of emergency department visits related to bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age was 12%, stable compared to the previous week. There were 215 emergency department visits for bronchiolitis recorded in week 45, compared to 296 in week 44. The proportion of hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among all hospitalizations following an emergency department visit was 30% in week 45.

• SOS Médecins: In week 45 of 2021, the proportion of cases handled by SOS Médecins related to bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age was 7%, a slight decrease compared to week 44 of 2021.

• Virology data: According to results from the virology laboratories at the Nancy and Strasbourg University Hospitals in week 45 of 2021, the circulation of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) remains at a high level in the region.