Key Points

COVID-19

• In the Pays de la Loire region, indicators of SARS-CoV-2 circulation remained at high levels in S16 across all departments in the region, as did other data sources pointing to persistent viral circulation (clusters, reports from social and medical-social institutions—ESMS, etc.). At the same time, indicators continued to show a significant impact on the healthcare system and healthcare utilization.

• In terms of viral circulation, virological indicators pointed to a generally stabilized situation, with a decrease in the incidence rate alongside a decrease in the testing rate that began in Week 14 (following restrictive measures and Easter Monday), and a positivity rate that remained stable at a high level. In terms of age groups, trends differed from previous weeks, with a slight improvement among those aged 15–65 and a slight deterioration among those aged 75 and older. It should be noted, however, that those aged 15–65, and particularly those aged 15–30, continued to exhibit the highest virological indicators. Among the screened RT-PCR-positive samples, the results showed a slight slowdown in the spread of the 20I/501Y.V1 variant, which nevertheless remained the overwhelming majority (86% of samples). The proportion of the 20H/501Y.V2 or 20J/501Y.V3 variants remained relatively stable and low at the regional level, with variations by department.

• The number of reported clusters in communities has remained high in recent weeks, and more broadly since Week 10. More than one-third of the latest reported clusters continued to involve the workplace. However, there has been a marked increase in clusters occurring in healthcare facilities and a persistent number of reports of outbreaks in long-term care facilities (ESMS/Ehpad).

• In urban areas, SOS Médecins’ activity for suspected Covid-19 cases remained generally stable in recent weeks, as did emergency room visits for the same reason. In hospitals, the weekly number of new Covid-19 hospitalizations reported at the regional level was also stable, though it remained at a high level. The number of intensive care admissions reported in Week 16, meanwhile, increased slightly, remaining at a high level.

Gastroenteritis

Overall stability in healthcare utilization for gastroenteritis among children under 5 in week 16, at a moderate level.

Bronchiolitis

Week 16 of the bronchiolitis epidemic among children under two years of age in the Pays de la Loire region: the peak has been passed, and a downward trend in indicators is observed. A decrease in emergency department visits for bronchiolitis has been observed over the past two weeks, while SOS Médecins calls for bronchiolitis remained stable in Week 16. A first week of decline in RSV isolations among hospitalized patients was observed in Week 16. If the trend in indicators continues, the epidemic could transition to a post-epidemic phase in Week 17.