Key Points

• In week 03-2021, the number of new cases rose slightly (12,333 new cases compared to 11,253 in week 02-2021, an increase of 10%). After a slight decrease in Week 02-2021, the number of people tested also increased in Week 03-2021 (164,027 people in Week 03-2021 compared to 159,476 in Week 02-2021). The incidence rate is rising (223.8 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 202.4 in week 02-2021). It is now close to the national incidence rate (191.5 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants). In week 03-2021, the positivity rate (7.5%) remained stable compared to week 02-2020 (7.1%).

• The epidemic situation in week 03-2021 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 92 per 100,000 among those aged 0–9 to 300 per 100,000 among those aged 80–89 and 669 per 100,000 among those aged 90 and older. Just over half (59%) of new cases tested in week 03-2021 are under 50 years old (28% are aged 20–39) and are therefore, in principle, at low risk of severe disease.

• In week 03-2021, viral circulation is on the rise in 8 departments: Aube (170.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Marne (221.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Haute-Marne (264.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Meurthe-et-Moselle (249.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Meuse (269.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Moselle (225.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), Bas-Rhin (218.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), and Haut-Rhin (219.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). It remains stable in the Ardennes (224.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and the Vosges (197.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). The sharpest increases are observed in Haut-Rhin, Moselle, and Haute-Marne.

• This significant 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 slightly down compared to last week (212 consultations in week 03-2021 versus 229 in week 02-2021).

• The number of emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 in the region’s emergency facilities remains high (n=709); the proportion of activity in emergency departments remains stable, at around 3.6%. Although the trend varies by department, activity remains high, particularly in the departments of Moselle, Bas-Rhin, Meurthe-et-Moselle, and Haut-Rhin.

• The number of new hospitalizations (n=1,213) is stable compared to the previous week (n=1,170, representing an increase of +3.7%). The number of new admissions to intensive care units for COVID-19 (n=182) is stable compared to the previous week (n=174, representing an increase of +4.6%). The number of Covid-19-related deaths in healthcare facilities (n=309) has increased compared to the previous week (n=240, an increase of +28.8%).

• In social and medical-social facilities, 8,335 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported among residents and 3,892 among staff since September 1. Nursing homes for the elderly are the hardest hit by the pandemic, accounting for 83% (8,335) of these cases among residents and 79% (3,892) among staff. Since September 1, 2020, 1,098 residents of medical and non-medical care facilities for the elderly have died, including 700 (63%) nursing home residents who died within their care facilities.

• As of January 27, 285 clusters are under investigation in social or medical-social facilities, and 95 in healthcare facilities.

• Since week 44, we have observed a significant increase in mortality across all age groups.

• The second wave of the pandemic, although less intense than the first, is now characterized by its prolonged duration. Its impact is already severe in the region, with, since week 36-20 (the week of the September school start), more than 216,000 people testing positive, 17,256 people hospitalized (including 2,449 in critical care), and 4,072 deaths in healthcare facilities and social and medical-social care facilities.