Summary

In Week 46 (November 9–15, 2020), emergency department visits and subsequent hospitalizations remained stable across all age groups except among 2- to 14-year-olds (up 9.8%, or 3,493 visits, and up 9%, or 2,674 hospitalizations, respectively). In Week 46, following four weeks of increases and stabilization in Week 45, visits for suspected COVID-19 decreased by 19% (a decrease of 2,755 visits). This decline was observed across all age groups but was more pronounced among those aged 45–74 (a 22% decrease, or 1,512 fewer visits), and those aged 15–44 (-21%, or 668 visits) than among those aged 75 and older (-13%, or 562 visits) and those under 15 (-5%, or 12 visits). In Week 46, suspected COVID-19 was the second most common diagnosis among adults. A total of 11,803 visits were recorded in Week 46 (vs. 14,558 visits in Week 45—consolidated data as of November 17, 2020). The share of visits for COVID-19 in total activity has fallen to 5.5% (7% in Week 45), while the proportion of hospitalizations following a visit across all age groups has risen slightly (56% vs. 54% in Week 45). The decline is observed across all regions except French Guiana (stable). In mainland France, the decline is most pronounced in Corsica (-40%), Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France (-24%), Pays de la Loire and PACA (-22%). In the overseas territories, a decrease of -48% was recorded in Guadeloupe and -50% in Mayotte. Since monitoring began on February 24, 2020, 281,804 emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 have been recorded. Seasonal respiratory conditions are on the rise among children: asthma (+54%, or 452 more visits), ENT issues (+16%, or 500 more visits), bronchitis and pneumonia (+18% and +32%—low case numbers); there has also been an increase in visits for vomiting (+17%, or +75 visits), abdominal pain (+17%, or +282 visits), and conjunctivitis (+27%, or +31 visits). Among adults, all these conditions are stable or declining.