Key Points

2020-2021 Winter Season

(from week 47-2020 to week 16-2021, November 16, 2020, to April 25, 2021):

• The 2020-2021 winter season was characterized by low activity for GEA in primary care as well as in hospital emergency departments. The low level of activity observed starting in March 2020 (2019-2020 season), in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, continued throughout the 2020-2021 season

• Norovirus was responsible for 73% of GEA cluster outbreaks; the most common genotype was GII.2[P16], detected in 50% of norovirus-positive outbreaks

2021-2022 Winter Season

(from week 47-2021 to week 16-2022, from November 22, 2021, to April 24, 2022):

• GEA activity was again comparable to that observed in the pre-COVID era

• For children under 5 years of age, the entire season was marked by activity close to historical highs

• Norovirus was responsible for 84% of GEA cluster outbreaks; the most common genotype was GII.4 2012[P16], detected in 50% of norovirus-positive outbreaks