Key Points

COVID-19

In the Pays de la Loire region, all epidemiological indicators remain at high levels, but the slowdown in SARS-CoV-2 transmission observed in Week 45 is confirmed in Week 46. The indicators reflecting this transmission are generally decreasing, while those reflecting its health impact appear to be stabilizing at levels that remain high for the time being.
In terms of virology, the decline in all indicators was confirmed in Week 46. The incidence rate and testing rate are decreasing, as is the positivity rate, indicating that the decline in the incidence rate is not solely due to a decrease in testing. All age groups show declining indicators, although the decrease is less pronounced among people aged 75 and older. It should be noted, however, that antigen tests are being gradually rolled out, though they are not included in this bulletin. This is likely to slightly underestimate the virological indicators (primarily testing and incidence) in the region at this time.
The weekly number of reported clusters has stabilized over the past two weeks, following the sharp increase observed in Week 44. Reports in Week 46 again primarily concerned, for the most part, the workplace (businesses) and long-term care facilities for the elderly (Ehpad).
A decrease in the number of SOS Médecins calls for suspected COVID-19 was again observed in Week 46, as was a decrease in the number of emergency room visits for the same reason. The latter decrease was observed to varying degrees across all departments. Similarly, after a sharp increase in Week 43, the weekly number of reported Covid-19 cases in ESMS/EHPADs appeared to decline in Week 44 and then in Week 45 (Week 46 data is currently being consolidated).
In hospitals, the weekly number of new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients and the number of new admissions to intensive care units for COVID-19 patients—both of which had been rising since Week 42—are both showing a trend toward stabilization in Week 46. However, the levels reached remain high and are either higher than or very close to those reached in the region during the first wave.
Finally, a significant excess in all-cause mortality across all age groups was observed in week 45 in the region, for the first time this fall. This excess primarily affected people aged 65 and older.
At the departmental level, the decline in positivity and incidence rates was confirmed in week S46 across all departments, although the decline in the incidence rate was more moderate in Mayenne. Hospital indicators for patients with COVID-19 are showing slightly different trends but remain high in all departments compared to the levels reached during the first wave.

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 room visits for bronchiolitis in children under two years of age remain at a low level, and to date, no active circulation of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis outbreaks, has been observed in the region.