Key Points

In week 48 (November 24–30), the number of emergency department visits increased among children (+8%, or 7,080 visits) and among those aged 75 and older (+5%, or 2,990 visits). It remained stable among those aged 15–74. The number of hospitalizations following a visit increased among children under 2 years of age (+12%, or 458 hospitalizations) and those aged 75 and older (+5%, or 1,398 hospitalizations), and remained stable in other age groups.

Compared to the previous week, there was an increase in respiratory indicators, with numbers at levels comparable to or lower than those of previous years:

• influenza/flu-like illness (+85%, or +1,336 visits), ENT conditions (+14%, or +1,882 visits), acute bronchitis (+19%, or +268 visits), pneumonia (+15%, or +708 visits), all ages,

• bronchiolitis in children under one year of age (+26%, or +612 visits),

• asthma attacks in children under 2 years of age (+14%, or +185 visits) and in those aged 75 and older (+15%, or +220 visits),

• suspected COVID-19 in those aged 75 and older (+28%, or +52 visits), in small sample sizes.

Among other indicators, there was an increase in visits for:

• fever alone in all age groups (+14%, or +625 visits) and general malaise in children aged 2–14 (+18%, or +100 visits).

• gastrointestinal conditions in children: gastroenteritis (+15%, or +393 visits) and vomiting in children aged 2–14 (+11%, or +91 visits).

• suicidal behavior in children in small groups (+13%, or +24 visits).

• Chest pain (+10%, or +181 visits), cardiac decompensation (+10%, or +141 visits), dyspnea/respiratory failure (+7%, or +117 visits), and dehydration (+29%, or +40 visits) among those aged 75 and older.