Key Points

COVID-19

• In the Pays de la Loire region, the increase in SARS-CoV-2 transmission observed in Week 53 continues into Week 1, and hospital indicators remain at a high level in the region, with an upward trend.

• All virological indicators have risen in Week 01. The increase in incidence and positivity rates continues, against a backdrop of a renewed rise in testing rates. This increase in incidence is most pronounced among those aged 75 and older, those under 15, and those aged 15–30.

• As of January 13, three cases of infection with the VOC 202012/01 variant (United Kingdom) had been identified in the region.

• The weekly number of reported Covid-19 cases in ESMS/EHPAD facilities is rising in S01 (data currently being consolidated), whereas it had been at a more moderate level in previous weeks.

• In urban areas, a significant increase in the number of SOS Médecins calls for suspected Covid-19 was observed in Week 01, particularly among those aged 15–44. In hospitals, emergency department visits for suspected Covid-19 also increased in Week 01, most notably among those aged 65 and older. The weekly number of new hospitalizations of Covid-19 patients and the number of new ICU admissions of Covid-19 patients are also on the rise in Week 01 at the regional level.

• In Week 53, no significant excess mortality across all causes and all age groups has been observed at the regional level so far (the last week with significant excess mortality: Week 50).

Bronchiolitis

The Pays de la Loire region is not currently experiencing an epidemic of bronchiolitis among children under two years of age. SOS Médecins calls and emergency department visits for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age remain at a low level, and to date, no active circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis epidemics, has been observed in the region.