Health Monitoring in the Normandy Region. Update as of October 22, 2021.

Published on 22 October 2021

Key Points

COVID-19

In week 41, a resurgence of viral circulation was observed in Normandy, with an increase in the incidence rate (+29%) and an effective R >1. The rise in the incidence rate was more pronounced among children aged 0–9 and adults over 60. At this stage, no impact on hospital indicators has been observed (new hospitalizations remain stable). At the departmental level, four departments recorded an increase: Seine-Maritime (31/100,000, +35%), Calvados (36/100,000, +33%), Eure (40/100,000, +54%), and Manche (14/100,000, +27%).
As of October 19, 81.5% of the population had received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 79.8% were fully vaccinated. Among those aged 65 and older, only 3.7% had received a booster dose. Given the increased circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and winter viruses, it is essential to encourage vaccination among those aged 65 and older who are eligible for a booster shot and to maintain high adherence to preventive measures, given the effectiveness of these measures in containing the epidemic and preserving the healthcare system.
Furthermore, as of October 15, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 screening tests are no longer automatically covered by health insurance. Testing remains free for vaccinated individuals, minors, and close contacts. For others, even those with symptoms, a doctor’s prescription is now required. This primarily affects unvaccinated, asymptomatic adults, who will now have to pay for so-called “convenience” tests to obtain a health pass. A significant drop in their numbers is expected, leading to a decrease in the testing rate. However, since the positivity rate among asymptomatic individuals is very low (0.5% in S41) compared to that of symptomatic individuals (5.6%), the impact on the number of confirmed cases should be limited, with a moderate decline in the incidence rate. Consequently, the positivity rate is expected to increase.
Since the reimbursement cut took effect at the end of Week 41, these effects are primarily expected starting in Week 42. For this reason, to monitor the evolution of the epidemic during this transition phase, three epidemiological indicators will receive special attention, in addition to those typically highlighted in this report: the positivity rate, the number of cases, and the number of people tested among symptomatic individuals.