Key Points

• COVID-19 Surveillance

  • multi-source, consisting of systems designed to be comprehensive and/or descriptive;

  • enabling the tracking and description of the epidemic in all its aspects;

  • the first-ever implementation of a system to centralize all diagnostic tests for a disease in real time (available starting in May 2020).

• Study period for this BSP

  • from March 2020 to May 2021;

  • covering the first three waves of the epidemic.

• Epidemic dynamics in Corsica (March 2020 – May 2021)

  • influenced by regional characteristics (tourism, testing policy, insufficient vaccination coverage);

  • epidemic dynamics reflected in all data sources;

  • a first wave that was less intense and shorter than in other regions, but placed significant strain on the healthcare system;

  • an early second wave, of more limited intensity thanks to public health measures;

  • a third wave of high and persistent intensity linked to the Alpha variant.

• Key Data in Corsica (March 2020 – May 2021)

  • 537,414 people tested and 14,604 cases identified in the SI-DEP system;

  • 1,059 hospitalizations, including 234 in intensive care, 206 deaths in the hospital;

  • 135 cases reported by sentinel intensive care units, median age of 68 years, presence of comorbidities in over 80% of them, median length of stay of 10 days;

  • 72 outbreaks reported in social and medical-social care facilities (ESMS), including 45 in nursing homes (EHPAD), 191 cases among residents and 153 among staff members, 24 deaths occurring within these facilities;

  • 2,728 emergency room visits and 1,985 SOS Médecins calls for suspected COVID-19;

  • 72% of people aged 75 and older have received one dose; 69% had completed their vaccination series by the end of May 2021;

  • 86 clusters reported.