Key Points

COVID-19

• In the Pays de la Loire region, a decline in SARS-CoV-2 circulation has been observed since Week 28 following a peak reached in Week 27. Hospital indicators tended to stabilize after a marked increase through Week 27, with the exception of hospital deaths, which have been rising for the past two weeks.

• In week 28, the adjusted regional incidence rate (accounting for the effect of the July 14 holiday) reached 1,085 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a 28% decrease compared to the previous week. The testing rate showed a similar trend (-25%), and the positivity rate stabilized at a level that remained high (-2 percentage points). The decline in virological indicators was observed in all departments of the region and across all age groups, with the most marked decrease observed among those under 15 years of age.

• Regarding healthcare utilization, the number of emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19 and the number of SOS Médecins calls for the same reason were trending downward in Week 28, following a peak in utilization observed in Week 27. New hospitalizations and new admissions to intensive care tended to stabilize, or even decrease, in week 28 after a marked increase through week 27. Deaths among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, however, showed a clear upward trend that became more pronounced starting in week 27.

Extreme heat, heatwave

• Between July 16 and 20, 2022, the region was hit by a second intense heat wave, which affected all departments in the Pays de la Loire. Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, and Vendée were placed under a red alert during this heatwave, while Mayenne and Sarthe were under an orange alert. A moderate increase in healthcare utilization for heat-related conditions was observed in the region during this period.