Key Points

COVID-19

In S07, indicators regarding SARS-CoV-2 circulation were rising again in the region, following a decline observed since early February, amid the growing spread of more transmissible variants.

In terms of viral circulation, incidence and positivity rates were rising again in S07, remaining at high levels. The 15–30 and 30–45 age groups had the highest incidence rates. The proportion of the 20I/501Y.V1 (UK) variant was increasing in the region in Week 7 compared to previous weeks.

The number of reported clusters in community settings, which had risen sharply since the beginning of 2021, was gradually decreasing in recent weeks. Similarly, the number of COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities (ESMS/EHPAD) in the region decreased in Week 06 compared to the previous five weeks.

In urban areas, SOS Médecins’ activity for suspected Covid-19 remained at a moderate and stable level in Week 7. Visits to emergency departments for the same reason continued to decline gradually at the regional level. Finally, the weekly number of hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients was slightly lower in Week 7 compared to Week 6 at the regional level, while remaining at a high level, whereas the number of intensive care admissions remained stable.

People aged 75 and older, who are at higher risk of severe disease, continued to show high virological indicators, but the increase was less pronounced than in other age groups in Week 7. This observation, along with the decline in reports from long-term care facilities (ESMS/Ehapd), likely reflects the effect of the gradual increase in vaccination coverage in this population—an effect also observed at the national level.

Gastroenteritis

After a sharp increase, SOS Médecins calls for gastroenteritis have remained stable at a moderate level since early January across all age groups, while emergency room visits have generally remained at low levels.

Bronchiolitis

The start of an epidemic phase of bronchiolitis among children under two years of age in the Pays de la Loire region. A sharp increase in emergency department visits for bronchiolitis and RSV isolations (particularly at the Nantes University Hospital) was observed in Week 7. Similarly, SOS Médecins calls continued the upward trend that began in Week 6.