Key Points

Key Points in Hauts-de-France

The number of new confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and weekly incidence rates continued to rise, with 904 new cases detected in week 32 (weekly incidence rate of 15.2/105) versus 809 (weekly incidence rate of 13.6/105) the previous week, with comparable testing rates.
In week 32, the highest incidence rates were observed among those aged 15–45 (22.0/105) and among those over 75 (14.1/105). The positivity rate, slightly higher than the previous week, reached the 2% alert threshold. Of the 12 clusters currently under investigation/management in the region, the majority are located in the Nord department (10).

The Oise department was classified as having moderate vulnerability on August 11, 2020, joining, at the regional level, the Nord department, which has been classified as having moderate vulnerability since July 24

In week 32, in the departments of Pas-de-Calais, Aisne, and Somme (classified as having limited vulnerability), the characterization of the epidemiological situation continued to indicate controlled community transmission, with positivity rates below 2% and incidence rates below 10 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The Nord department remained at the moderate vulnerability level given the trend in indicators, which confirmed active viral circulation, particularly in the Lille metropolitan area.

Focus on the Oise department

In the Oise, the incidence rate rose rapidly in week 32, reaching 11.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 7.9 in week 31. This increase in incidence, accompanied by a rise in the positivity rate (2.1% in week 32 vs. 1.5% in week 31), while the testing rate remained relatively stable and it was not possible to link the new cases to identified clusters, reflected an acceleration in the circulation of the virus in the community, justifying the department’s classification as having moderate vulnerability. In week 32, in the Oise department, the highest incidence rate was observed among 15- to 44-year-olds (19.1/105) and more specifically among 20- to 30-year-olds (32.2/105).