Key Points

• In Week 51, COVID-19 syndromic surveillance indicators (use of emergency care, visits to private practices) were on the rise regionally compared to the previous week. At the regional and departmental levels, virological indicators remain at high levels. Incidence rates were rising in 9 departments, including Haute-Garonne and Hérault, while positivity rates were declining in all departments. Weekly numbers of new hospital admissions and admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) were rising at the regional level. The estimated effective reproduction number as of December 19 was significantly above 1 in Occitanie based on SI-DEP virological data.

• Regarding mortality data, the decline in the weekly number of hospital deaths continues, as does the decline in all-cause deaths.

• Changes in indicators, particularly healthcare utilization (emergency room visits, hospitalizations), point to an increase in viral circulation at the regional level; however, this trend is not observed in certain departments of the region where circulation continues to decline (09, 32, 46, and 48). The increase in testing prior to the holidays explains part of the rise in the incidence rate and the decline in the positivity rate.