Summary

Situation in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

With the first confirmed case on February 26, 2020, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (BFC) was one of the first regions in France to face the COVID-19 epidemic. The major impact of this epidemic on the population—and in particular on the most vulnerable, including the elderly—shows geographical disparities that reflect the intensity of the virus’s spread prior to the implementation of general lockdown measures on March 17, 2020. In week 17 (April 20–26, 2020), the trend was downward for several indicators of healthcare utilization, both in outpatient settings and in hospitals. The region experienced a significant excess of all-cause mortality across all age groups for six weeks, from Week 12 (March 16–22, 2020) to Week 17 (April 20–26, 2020), with a peak in Week 14 (March 30–April 5).

* The excess mortality is moderate at the regional level but is not statistically significant at the departmental level.

Observed trends

In week 19 (May 4–10, 2020) and for the sixth consecutive week, the number of SOS Médecins calls and emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 remains low, despite a recent increase in SOS Médecins consultations for suspected COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rate remained stable this past week at around 2%. In nursing homes and long-term care facilities, the number of new cases and reported deaths is also decreasing. Mortality in week 18 is comparable to that of previous years. At this stage of the epidemic, 953 deaths in hospitals have been recorded.