Key Points

COVID-19

In the Pays de la Loire region, widespread circulation of SARS-CoV-2 continued in weeks 31 and 32. The impact observed on regional hospital indicators since week 29 persisted over the past two weeks.

In Week 32, a sharp increase in the testing rate was observed, following the implementation of the health pass. The rise in the incidence rate was more moderate, while the positivity rate decreased slightly at the regional level. Testing and incidence rates remained highest among those aged 15–45. Although those aged 75 and older had one of the lowest incidence rates in Week 32, they showed the sharpest increase compared to Week 31, with a lower testing rate than among those aged 15–65. As in mainland France, the L452R variant of interest (primarily carried by the Delta variant) became predominant among screened results at the regional level.

The number of reported clusters in communities that began in Week 31 remained stable compared to Week 30, primarily involving gatherings related to summer activities (campgrounds, etc.), the workplace, and, more recently, nursing homes.

In urban areas, the number of SOS Médecins medical consultations for suspected COVID-19 increased in Week 32, while the number of emergency room visits for the same reason remained stable.

In hospitals, the weekly numbers of new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients and admissions to critical care units reported at the regional level continued to rise in Week 31 and Week 32, reaching levels that remained relatively moderate.

At the departmental level, five regional departments had an incidence rate exceeding 100 per 100,000 inhabitants in week 32. The highest rate was still observed in Loire-Atlantique, followed by Vendée and Maine-et-Loire. However, the sharpest increase in the incidence rate was observed in Mayenne in Week 32, accompanied by a slight rise in the positivity rate. Regarding the impact on healthcare capacity, an increase in new hospitalizations and critical care admissions was observed in the three departments with the highest incidence rates.

In terms of vaccination, the sharpest increases in vaccination coverage over the past two weeks were observed among 12- to 17-year-olds, ahead of 18- to 49-year-olds. Vaccination coverage remained highest, however, among people aged 65 and older.

High temperatures, heat waves

To date, no heat wave has affected the region since the start of the 2021 season.