Key Points

• In Week 16 (April 19–25, 2021), epidemiological indicators of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in Île-de-France remained at a high level. A downward trend in the indicators continued to be observed, but it was moderate, and pressure on hospitals remained high and persistent in the region. The incidence rate for Week 16 continued to decline for the third consecutive week. This decline was partly due to the continued decrease in the testing rate. The positivity rate remained stable in Île-de-France and was declining among older adults.

• In Week 16, visits to primary care for “suspected COVID-19” and visits to emergency care decreased slightly, but the strain on the hospital system—which had been very high for several weeks in Île-de-France—showed no clear decline. The intensity of the epidemic in recent weeks continued to be reflected in mortality indicators. In Week 16, the number of hospital deaths among COVID-19 patients, already at a high level in Île-de-France, rose again, and all-cause mortality across all age groups was already elevated in Week 15.

• At the same time, COVID-19 vaccination continued to progress in Week 16 in Île-de-France. As of April 27, 2021, 2,171,543 residents of Île-de-France had received at least one dose of the vaccine, representing a single-dose vaccination coverage rate of 18.0% (vs. 15.7% in Week 15).

• Although the decline in epidemiological indicators might suggest the beginning of a slowdown in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, transmission remained high in Île-de-France, and the epidemiological situation in the region—one week before the partial lifting of enhanced restrictions—is less favorable than it was one week before the lifting of the second lockdown.

• In this context, limiting contacts and travel, as well as the consistent practice of preventive measures, are essential for everyone, including vaccinated individuals. It remains crucial that anyone experiencing symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 immediately self-isolate and get tested as soon as possible.