Key Points

COVID-19

In the Pays de la Loire region, SARS-CoV-2 transmission indicators remained at a high level in Week 14 across all departments in the region. The proportion of suspected variants of concern (VOCs) identified by screening RT-PCR continued to rise in the region during Week 14 for the 20I/501Y.V1 variant, while it decreased slightly and remained a minority for the 20H/501Y.V2 and 20J/501Y.V3 variants.

In terms of viral circulation, the decline in the testing rate and incidence rate observed in week 14 was due to the decrease in the number of people tested on Easter Monday (April 5, a public holiday) and the implementation of public health restrictions. Further analyses showed that the epidemiological situation continued to deteriorate in Sarthe, while it had largely stabilized in other departments. The 15–30 age group still had the highest indicators.

The number of reported clusters in communities remained high, as observed since Week 10, and again primarily involved the workplace.

In urban areas, SOS Médecins’ activity for suspected Covid-19 cases remained stable in Week 14 compared to the previous week, as did emergency room visits for the same reason. In hospitals, the weekly number of new Covid-19 hospitalizations reported at the regional level decreased slightly in Week 14, though it remained at a high level. The number of reported intensive care admissions stabilized at a high level in Week 14.

Gastroenteritis

Following a marked increase in emergency department visits for gastroenteritis among children under 5 in Week 13, a stabilization at a high level was observed in Week 14.

Bronchiolitis

Eighth week of the bronchiolitis epidemic among children under two years of age in the Pays de la Loire region. A marked increase in calls to SOS Médecins for bronchiolitis was observed in week 14, at a high level. Emergency department visits stabilized in week 14 at a high level, as did RSV isolations among hospitalized patients.