Summary

In week 34 (August 17–23, 2020), total activity at SOS Médecins clinics declined among children (-12.5%, or 1,596 fewer procedures) and remained stable among adults. For the second consecutive week, medical procedures for suspected COVID-19 increased by 20% in Week 34. In total, 2,464 procedures were recorded in Week 34 (vs. 2,054 procedures in Week 33, or +410 procedures). This increase mainly concerns adults, particularly those aged 15–74 (+21%, or +357 procedures), notably those aged 15–44, who account for 63% of COVID procedures, and people aged 75 and older, in smaller numbers (+34%, or +26 procedures). The share of total activity across all age groups rose slightly to 4.2% (vs. 3.4% in week 33). This increase was observed in all regions except Brittany and Centre-Val-de-Loire. It ranged from +6% in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté to +183% (+33 procedures) in Corsica. Among the highest increases, Normandy (+47%, or +45 procedures) and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (+44%, or +107 procedures) also stand out. The regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur recorded the highest number of procedures (18%, 17%, 14%, and 12% of procedures recorded nationally, respectively). Since the start of surveillance, 76,940 procedures for suspected COVID-19 have been performed. Among other conditions, there has been an increase in procedures for trauma (+13%, or +43 procedures) among 2- to 14-year-olds, as well as procedures for low back pain/sciatica among 15- to 74-year-olds (+6%, or +159 procedures). Finally, an increase of approximately 7% in gastrointestinal symptoms was observed in both children and adults, primarily involving gastroenteritis and abdominal pain.