Key Points

• In week 04-2021, the number of new cases remained stable (12,319 new cases compared to 12,351 in week 03-2021). The number of people tested increased in week 04-2021 (184,281 people in week 04-2021 compared to 164,461 in week 03-2021). The incidence rate is stable (223.5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 224.1 in week 03-2021). It remains close to the national incidence rate (213.6 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants). In week 04-2021, the positivity rate (6.7%) was slightly lower than in week 03-2020 (7.5%).

• The epidemic situation in week 04-2021 remains a cause for concern, with viral circulation well above the threshold for active virus circulation (set at 50 new cases per 100,000). Viral circulation is high across all age groups, ranging from 97 per 100,000 among those aged 0–9 to 286 per 100,000 among those aged 80–89 and 559 per 100,000 among those aged 90 and older. More than half (61%) of new cases tested in week 04-2021 are under 50 years old (28% are aged 20–39) and are therefore, in principle, at low risk of severe disease.

• In week 04-2021, viral circulation is on the rise in two departments: Aube (193.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and Moselle (275.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). The incidence rate is decreasing in 5 departments: Ardennes (174.0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Haute-Marne (216.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Meuse (187.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Haut-Rhin (194.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), and Vosges (173.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). It remains stable in Marne (212.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Meurthe-et-Moselle (249.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), and Bas-Rhin (226.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).

• This high level of viral circulation continues to result in a high number of severe cases requiring hospitalization, which maintains sustained and continuous pressure on the healthcare system. The number of consultations for suspected COVID-19 at the region’s five SOS Médecins associations is up compared to last week (244 consultations in week 04-2021 versus 212 in week 03-2021).