Summary

In week 42 (October 12–18, 2020), emergency department visits and subsequent hospitalizations declined slightly among children (–5.2%, or 3,495 fewer visits, and –5.8%, or 391 fewer hospitalizations, respectively) and remained stable among adults. Over the past week, the number of visits for suspected COVID-19 across all age groups increased by +35% (7,925 vs. 5,856 visits in Week 41—consolidated data as of October 20, 2020). The share of visits for COVID-19 in total activity and the proportion of hospitalizations following a visit across all age groups have risen slightly (+3% and 45% vs. 2.1% and 42% in Week 41). This increase is observed among children (+29.9%, or +40 visits) but is primarily driven by adults (+35.5%, or +2,029 visits). Among adults, the increase is more pronounced among those aged 65–74 (+57% in Week 42 vs. +14% in Week 41) and those aged 75 and older (+54% in Week 42 vs. +33% in Week 41), with their shares of total activity reaching 6.1% and 5%, respectively. All metropolitan regions contributed to this increase. The sharpest increases were observed in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (+67%), Grand-Est (+55%), Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (+52%), and PACA (+56%). With the exception of Mayotte (up to +33%), the overseas regions remained stable or declined. Since monitoring began on February 24, 2020, 229,451 emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 have been recorded. Among other conditions, there has been an increase in visits for isolated fever among children (+7.1%, or +130 visits); among children under 2 years of age specifically, there has been an increase in visits for ENT conditions (+14.4%, or +367 visits), gastroenteritis (+13.5%, or +51 visits), and urinary tract infections (+26%, or +63 visits); and among adults aged 15–74, an increase in visits for influenza/flu-like illness (+38.2%, or +60 visits).