Key Points

COVID-19

• The decline in SARS-CoV-2 circulation continues in Week 48. All epidemiological indicators remain high, but the decline is evident in both viral circulation and health impact. These observations confirm that the epidemic peak of new infections and hospitalizations from the second wave has passed.

• The decline in all virological indicators continues in Week 48, in terms of both incidence rates and positivity rates. This decrease is observed across all age groups, but indicators remain higher among people aged 75 and older. It should be noted that antigen tests, included in this bulletin, account for approximately 7% of positive tests recorded in week 48 (with PCR tests still representing the vast majority).

• The weekly number of reported clusters is clearly decreasing in Week 48, although the proportion of reports from nursing homes (Ehpad) remains high. The decline in the weekly number of reported Covid-19 outbreaks in ESMS/EHPADs, which began in Week 46, was confirmed in Week 47 but remained high (data for Week 48 is currently being consolidated).

• In urban areas, the decline in the number of SOS Médecins calls for suspected COVID-19 continued in Week 48, as did the decline in the number of emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 in hospitals. The weekly number of new hospitalizations of Covid-19 patients and the number of new admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) for Covid-19 patients continued to decline in Week 48, although the decline was more moderate in ICUs.

• In week 47, all-cause mortality across all age groups is at the upper limit of the usual fluctuation ranges for this period, following a significant excess observed in weeks 45 and 46, particularly among people aged 65 and older.

Bronchiolitis (in children under 2 years of age)

The Pays de la Loire region is not currently experiencing an epidemic of bronchiolitis among children under two years of age. SOS Médecins calls and emergency room visits for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age remain at a low level, and to date, no active circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis epidemics, has been observed in the region.