Key Points

COVID-19

• In the Hauts-de-France region, during week 18, the epidemic situation continues to improve across all areas, with the reproduction rate remaining significantly below 1 for the fifth consecutive week. However, the decline in virological indicators is slower than what was observed in previous weeks, when the positive impact of school holidays on the dynamics of viral circulation was still evident.

• There is also a slight upward trend among children under 10, while the situation remains favorable in other age groups. Incidence rates remain high (>400 cases/100,000 inhabitants), particularly among those over 65, and should prompt vigilance.

• Regional circulation of the Omicron variant remains almost exclusive (99%) and is dominated by the BA.2 sublineage, which has increased transmissibility. In urban areas, visits to Sentinelles network physicians for acute respiratory infections of all causes remained stable in Week 18.

Influenza and influenza-like illnesses

• Post-epidemic phase for the past 2 weeks. In Week 18, visits for influenza-like illnesses continued to decline in emergency departments and in the two SOS Médecins associations reporting data (Saint-Quentin and Amiens). The incidence rate of acute respiratory infections from all causes, as estimated by the Sentinelles network, was stable in week 18. The number of influenza viruses isolated in the laboratories of the Lille and Amiens university hospitals continued to decrease in week 18.