Summary

In week 38 (September 14–20, 2020), emergency department visits increased by 4% among people aged 15–74 (an increase of 10,202 visits), remained stable among those aged 75 and older, and decreased among children (a decrease of 7%, or 5,783 visits). Hospitalizations following emergency department visits decreased among children (-9%, or 728 fewer hospitalizations) and remained stable among adults.

Over the past week, the number of visits for suspected COVID-19 across all age groups increased by 21% (6,514 vs. 5,368 visits in Week 37—consolidated data as of September 22, 2020). This increase primarily affects adults, with a 24% rise in visits (i.e., 1,197 more visits). A decrease is observed among children (-12%, or -51 visits). The share of visits for COVID-19 in total activity across all age groups has risen slightly (2.1% in Week 38 vs. 1.8% in Week 37), as has the proportion of hospitalizations following a visit (32% in Week 38 vs. 30% in Week 37). The increase is observed in most regions except Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Occitanie. It ranges from +7% in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (i.e., +19 visits) to +44% in Île-de-France (i.e., +740 visits). Since monitoring began on February 24, 2020, 204,344 emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 have been recorded.

Among other conditions, most indicators are declining among children, while among adults, the rise in indicators for respiratory conditions continues, including asthma (+13%, or 299 visits), ENT conditions (+9%, or 277 visits), acute bronchitis (+22%, or 120 visits), pneumonia (+16%, or +402 visits across all ages), and dyspnea/respiratory failure (+9%, or +121 visits among those aged 75 and older). Finally, heat-related indicators are rising at a moderate rate, with general malaise among 2- to 14-year-olds (+19%, or +96 visits), isolated fever (+7%, or +82 visits) among 15- to 74-year-olds, and hyperthermia and heatstroke (+71%, or +25 visits) among those aged 15 and older.