Key Points

COVID-19

In Hauts-de-France, epidemic activity continues to decline at the regional level. The test positivity rate continued to fall in week 20 and, for the first time in several months, fell below the 5% alert threshold, despite increased testing. The Oise remains the department with the highest level of epidemic activity. Incidence and positivity rates were declining in most age groups and remained highest among those aged 10–49.

In hospitals, the epidemic burden is gradually decreasing but remains high, with approximately 2,500 patients still hospitalized for COVID-19 and about 450 patients still receiving critical care.

The prevalence of variants remains generally stable at the regional level, with the V1 variant circulating most widely and a low proportion of V2 or V3 variants (<3%) at the regional level. The prevalence of V2 or V3 variants, which has decreased in the Oise department compared to the previous analysis period, remains twice as high as the regional average and is increasing in the Somme.

All-cause mortality

At the regional level, a significant excess of all-cause mortality has been observed since week S43-2020 among people of all ages and those aged 65 and older.