Key Points

Increase in virological and hospital indicators in Occitanie; viral circulation is intensifying locally across the region

• In Week 53, COVID-19 syndromic surveillance indicators (use of emergency care, visits to private practices) showed a slight increase at the regional level compared to Week 52.

• At the regional and departmental levels, virological indicators (incidence and positivity rates) were rising compared to the previous week and, in some cases, were at high levels. Testing rates, however, were decreasing compared to weeks 51 and 52, during which a very sharp increase in testing activity had been observed. These trends were also observed across all age groups (similar observations at the national level).

• The positivity rates observed in recent days are comparable to those observed in mid-December in the region.

• Weekly numbers of new hospital admissions were on the rise, particularly in certain departments, while intensive care admissions were stable or declining in most departments.

• As of January 5, R-value estimates for Occitanie were significantly above 1 according to the SI-DEP source and not significant according to OSCOUR®.

• Regarding mortality data, the weekly number of deaths from all causes observed in the region was decreasing in week 52, and the number of hospital deaths remained stable in week 53.

• Virological and morbidity indicators were on the rise in week 53. They suggest that viral circulation remains highly active at a high level in the region, with an acceleration in certain departments.