Key Points

COVID-19

Week 46 is marked by a decline in numerous indicators, suggesting that the epidemic is in a downward phase in the region. Thus, the incidence of COVID-19 cases, the positivity rate, the number of new hospitalizations, and the number of new cases reported in long-term care facilities are all decreasing. The effective reproduction number, which reflects the rate of spread, has fallen below 1.

However, mortality remains higher than expected; the age-standardized excess mortality rate for all causes has been classified as moderate since Week 43. The number of deaths among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 continues to rise.

Bronchiolitis

Winter surveillance resumed in week 40. In week 46: bronchiolitis activity is stable and low. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), responsible for the majority of bronchiolitis cases in children under 2 years of age, has not yet been isolated in the laboratories of Normandy university hospitals. Current respiratory infections are mainly caused by rhinoviruses.