Key Points

COVID-19

In the Pays de la Loire region, the high circulation of SARS-CoV-2 stabilized in week 33 and then declined in week 34. The impact observed on regional hospital indicators since week 29 persisted but has stabilized in recent weeks. In week 34, decreases in testing rates and incidence rates were observed. These remained highest among those aged 15–30 and 30–45, with all age groups showing a decrease in their indicators. The positivity rate also decreased, albeit to a lesser extent. It remained higher among those under 15 compared to other age groups, a difference primarily explained by more targeted testing practices among children, as opposed to mass testing among adults, particularly due to the implementation of the health pass. Regarding variants of interest, as in mainland France, the L452R mutation (primarily carried by the Delta variant) remained the overwhelming majority among regionally screened results.

At the departmental level, two of the region’s five departments (Loire-Atlantique and Maine-et-Loire) still had, in Week 34, an incidence rate exceeding 100 per 100,000 inhabitants, and the other three had incidence rates between 75 and 100 per 100,000 inhabitants. However, all departments showed declining virological indicators. In terms of public health impact, visits to emergency departments for suspected COVID-19 cases were stabilizing or even decreasing in all departments. Similarly, new hospitalizations for confirmed cases were stabilizing in almost all departments, with the exception of Maine-et-Loire, where the increase continued. Intensive care admissions were stable or declining in all departments in week 34, following moderate increases that in some cases continued through week 33 depending on the department.

In terms of vaccination, vaccination coverage continued to increase among 12- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 49-year-olds, with more than 50% of each age group now fully vaccinated and 75% having received a first dose. Vaccination coverage still showed a strong age gradient, reflecting in particular the successive phases of the vaccination strategy.

High temperatures, heat waves

To date, no heat wave has affected the region since the start of the 2021 season, and indicators show levels and trends expected for this time of year.