Summary

After peaking in late March during the week following the widespread lockdown of the population, the COVID-19 outbreak in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is subsiding. Three weeks after the start of the easing of lockdown measures, the decline in the COVID-19 outbreak continues. In week 22, most epidemiological indicators continue to trend downward in urban areas, hospitals, and medical-social and healthcare facilities. The new indicators from the SI-DEP system (screening information system), which is gradually ramping up in our region, also point to a decrease in the weekly number of people testing positive in week 22. Finally, all-cause mortality has not shown a significant excess since week 18.

To identify and isolate potentially infected individuals and their contacts in order to stop transmission chains as early as possible, a major initiative involving private practitioners, healthcare facilities, the Health Insurance Fund, and hospital and private clinical laboratories is being coordinated by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) with support from the regional unit of Santé publique France. In particular, it enables the detection and investigation of a growing number of clusters. As of June 4, 12 clusters are under investigation in eight departments across the region. This surveillance of clusters contributes to the analysis of the epidemiological situation at a granular territorial level. These clusters serve as a reminder that low-level circulation of the virus persists and underscore the importance of everyone adhering to the recommended hygiene and social distancing measures to prevent any resurgence of the epidemic.

This favorable trend in the epidemiological situation does not erase the very heavy toll of the first wave of the epidemic, which struck the region in early March, resulting in nearly 10,000 hospitalizations—including approximately 900 in intensive care—more than 8,000 cases among residents of long-term care facilities (EMS), more than 7,700 cases among healthcare and long-term care facility staff, and finally, nearly 3,000 deaths in hospitals and long-term care facilities. As these figures show, the elderly, healthcare workers, and those in contact with vulnerable individuals were particularly affected.