Key Points

COVID-19

In Week 48 of 2022, increased circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in the Grand Est region:

• since incidence data have been incomplete since Week 44, they should be interpreted with caution;

• increase in incidence across all age groups;

• increase in the number of new hospitalizations across all departments and in critical care compared to Week 47 of 2022;

• slight increase in the number of emergency room visits for COVID-19 and stabilization in the number of COVID-19 consultations at SOS Médecins clinics in the region;

• Departmental incidence rates range from 466 (Meuse) to 560 (Aube) new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. They are rising in all departments;

• the screening rate is 27%, and nearly all screened tests indicate a suspected Omicron variant (for tests where the mutation is sought and interpretable). In week 48 of 2022, 93% of screened samples carried a mutation consistent with the new Omicron sublineages, including BA.5 and its various sublineages (including BQ.1.1 and BF.7) and BA.4.

Bronchiolitis

• OSCOUR®: In week 48 of 2022, the proportion of activity related to bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age in emergency departments has stabilized. It stands at 30%, or 687 visits. The proportion of hospitalizations for bronchiolitis among all hospitalizations following an emergency department visit was 60% in week 48 of 2022.

• SOS Médecins: In week 48 of 2022, the proportion of cases handled by SOS Médecins related to bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age was 15%, a slight decrease compared to week 47 of 2022.

Influenza and Flu-Like Illnesses

• OSCOUR®: In week 48-2022, the number of emergency department visits for flu-like illness, all ages, increased compared to the previous week (135 versus 79 in week 47-2022). The proportion of cases increased slightly by 0.5%.

• SOS Médecins: The number of consultations for influenza-like illness across all age groups continues to rise compared to the previous week (534 consultations versus 310 in week 47 of 2022), representing an 8% share of activity.

• Severe cases: Since the start of surveillance, 2 severe cases of influenza have been reported by the region’s intensive care units.