Key Points

COVID-19

• In week 16, epidemiological indicators remained at a high level, with a downward trend for most of them. Analysis of the impact of restrictive measures indicates that the trend in epidemiological indicators in weeks 15 and 16 is consistent with a beneficial effect of the enhanced restrictive measures implemented since March 20, 2021, in the Eure and Seine-Maritime departments, coupled with the early school break.

• However, the number of new admissions of COVID-19 patients to general wards and intensive care units was increasing. Hospital strain remains a concern. The total number of COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Normandy was decreasing in general wards but increasing in intensive care units. The number of patients who died during hospitalization was relatively stable.

• Analysis of screening test results for variants of interest collected via the SI-DEP tool showed a stable proportion of suspected UK variants, accounting for 75.4% of screened tests. The proportion of suspected ZA or BR variants was also stable at 3.3%. Seine-Maritime had a proportion of 82.8% suspected UK variants, Calvados 60.8%, Orne 77.9%, Manche 65.9%, and Eure 73.3%. The proportion of suspected cases of the ZA or BR variants was 6.8% in Manche, 3.1% in Eure, 7.1% in Calvados, 2.7% in Orne, and 1.4% in Seine-Maritime.

• In this context, adherence to individual prevention measures, compliance with collective containment measures, and the acceleration of vaccination remain major challenges in addressing the still very high level of viral circulation. Currently, 10.3% of Normandy residents have received two doses of the vaccine. Vaccination coverage with at least one dose in the general population in Normandy was approximately 24.4%.

Mortality

In week 15, Normandy was again experiencing a moderate excess.

Bronchiolitis

Post-epidemic phase. In week 16, bronchiolitis activity is increasing at SOS-Médecins and decreasing, though less markedly, in emergency departments. The positivity rate is decreasing: 13 RSV cases were isolated by the Rouen University Hospital laboratory and 4 by the Caen University Hospital laboratory.

Gastroenteritis

In week 16, activity for gastroenteritis at SOS-Médecins (all ages) continued to decline. Activity in emergency departments is also decreasing. For the Normandy region, the activity level is classified as low. The incidence of acute diarrhea is decreasing in week 16.