Key Points

In Week 36 (September 4–10, 2023), the first week of the new school year, emergency department activity increased among children (+12%, or 8,210 visits, and +12.8%, or 863 hospitalizations following visits) and remained stable among adults.

After a week of stabilization (Week 35), visits for suspected COVID-19 are on the rise again (3,651 visits vs. 2,815 in Week 35, or +30%) across all age groups: +53% among children (or +178 visits) and +24% among adults (+558 visits). The proportion of hospitalizations following a visit remains stable at 33%.

Among children, in connection with the start of the school year, the following increases were noted: trauma among 2- to 14-year-olds (+15%), asthma, ENT conditions, and isolated fever among those under 15 (+71%, +20%, and +21%, respectively), as well as bronchiolitis among those under 2 (+28%, 467 visits in S36). Visits for suicide attempts were also on the rise among those under 15 and those aged 15–44 (+29% and +14%, or 33 and 110 visits, respectively).

In line with recent weather conditions, there was a sharp increase in visits for heatstroke (256 visits in S36 vs. 32 in S35), primarily affecting those aged 15–74 (174 visits). A concomitant increase in visits for general malaise (+14% across all ages, or +1,546 visits), dehydration among adults (+47%, or +128 visits), and insect bites among those aged 15–74 (+32%, or +224 visits) was also observed.

In the context of the Rugby World Cup, which began on September 8, no unusual variations in the monitored indicators were observed. There was a slight increase in visits for stress among those aged 15–74 (+12%, or +57 visits), which may also be associated with the start of the school year and the return to work.