Key Points

COVID-19

• In the Pays de la Loire region, SARS-CoV-2 viral circulation and hospital and healthcare utilization indicators remained at low levels.

• In S03, virological indicators (testing rate, incidence rate, positivity rate) continued to decline for the sixth consecutive week. They were thus at very low levels across all departments in the Pays de la Loire region and across all age groups.

• SOS Médecins calls and emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19, as well as new hospitalizations, new admissions to intensive care, and in-hospital deaths among patients with SARS-CoV-2, stabilized at low levels.

Bronchiolitis

• The Pays de la Loire region entered the post-epidemic phase for bronchiolitis in S03.

• In S03, the rate of emergency department visits for bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age remained fairly stable, while SOS Médecins calls decreased. The positivity rate for RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) isolates reported by the virology laboratories at the Nantes and Angers university hospitals continued to decline in S03.

Influenza and influenza-like illness

• The Pays de la Loire region has been in an influenza epidemic phase since Week 49.

• In Week 3, emergency department visits and SOS Médecins calls for influenza-like illness continued to decline for the fourth consecutive week.

• Emergency room visits reached a low level, while SOS Médecins calls remained at a relatively high level. Hospitalizations following emergency room visits were also declining.

• The last cluster of acute respiratory infections (excluding COVID-19) reported in long-term care facilities occurred in week S01, and the last severe case of influenza reported by sentinel intensive care units occurred in week S02.

Acute Gastroenteritis

• Emergency department visits for acute gastroenteritis remained stable and at a low level. Calls to SOS Médecins for acute gastroenteritis in week S03 were at a moderate level for the third consecutive week following a sharp increase in week S01.