Summary

In week 50 (December 7–13, 2020), total activity at SOS Médecins clinics rose slightly across all age groups: +6.7% among children (i.e., +1,110 visits) and +4.2% among adults (i.e., +1,753 visits). In week 50, after five weeks of decline, medical procedures for suspected COVID-19 across all age groups stabilized. By age group, this stabilization resulted in a slight increase among adults (+5.3%, or +96 procedures) and a continued decline among children (-9.8%, or -32 procedures). Suspected COVID-19 is the fourth most common diagnosis among 15- to 74-year-olds and the eighth most common among 2- to 14-year-olds. In total, 2,211 cases were recorded (vs. 2,151 cases in week 49, or +2.8%). The share of total activity across all age groups remains stable at 3.8% (vs. 3.8% in week 49). By region, an increase in medical procedures for suspected COVID-19 was observed in Île-de-France (+23%, or +74 procedures), Brittany (+20%, or +12 procedures), and PACA (+11%, or +28 procedures), and to a more moderate extent in Grand-Est and Centre-Val-de-Loire (+4%, or +10 and +3 procedures, respectively). The Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regions remain stable, while the other regions continue to see a decline. Since the start of surveillance, 155,920 medical procedures for suspected COVID-19 have been performed. Most of the most common conditions are on the rise, particularly among children. However, levels remain well below those of previous years. An increase is observed across all age groups in seasonal respiratory conditions: ENT disorders (+9%), bronchitis (+13%), and digestive conditions: acute gastroenteritis (+9%), vomiting (+12.4%, returning to levels typically observed), as well as injuries (+7%). Also notable is the increase in cases of isolated fever among children under 2 and viral syndrome among children (+24%, or 82 additional cases). Cases of chickenpox among children have continued to rise since the start of the school year (+35%, or 88 additional cases).