Summary

What is currently known about the situation in the Centre-Val de Loire region?

The outbreak began in the region in Eure-et-Loir with the first case on March 3. The last department to be affected was Indre on March 14. Community transmission of the virus began in week 11 of 2020 (March 9–15, 2020). In week 16 (April 13–19, 2020), the trend was downward for several indicators. The region has shown a significant excess in all-cause mortality across all age groups since week 13 (March 23–29, 2020), peaking in week 14 (March 30–April 5).

What’s new in this Update for the region?

In week 19, we note a continued decline in several indicators monitored in relation to COVID-19: SOS Médecins calls for suspected COVID-19, emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19, hospitalizations and intensive care admissions for COVID-19, and all-cause mortality. No excess has been observed to date in week 18 across all departments in the region.

What are the public health implications in the region?

Regional health stakeholders are currently mobilized at all levels to best support the population and institutional actors as lockdown restrictions are lifted and to prevent a resurgence of the epidemic.

• Healthcare professionals (private practitioners) are on the front lines for case management and identifying close contacts.

• Local contact tracing platforms, bringing together expertise from the Health Insurance Fund and the Regional Health Agency and operational since the start of the week, are responsible for identifying and monitoring new cases and providing support (isolation and compliance with lockdown measures, sick leave, diagnosis, contact tracing, and follow-up of cases and their contacts).

• This system is supplemented by departmental and regional expert teams combining multidisciplinary expertise (Regional Health Agency, Public Health France, CPIAS, National Education, etc.) essential for the early identification, characterization, and management of any situation involving clusters of cases or localized resurgence of the epidemic.

To date, the epidemiological situation remains fragile and depends on our collective ability to continue implementing the control measures put in place. The results achieved during this lockdown period have been significant; it is therefore important to continue adhering to the rules and preventive measures.