Key Points

In Week 01 (January 3–9, 2022), total activity at SOS Médecins clinics saw a slight increase among those aged 15–74 and 2–14 (+5%, or +2,400 and +687 cases, respectively) and decreased among those under 2 years old (-23%, or -1,581 cases) and those 75 and older (-18%, or -1,249 cases).

Cases involving suspected COVID-19 continue to rise and have surpassed the peak of the second wave. They represent the second most common condition among adults aged 15–74 and the third most common among those aged 2–14. In total, 8,191 cases (vs. 5,908 cases in Week 52) were recorded (i.e., +38% vs. +46% in Week 52 and +11% in Week 51). Cases are on the rise across all age groups (with the exception of those aged 75 and older), most notably among children: under 2 years old (+51%, or +66 cases), 2–14 years old (+93%, or +682 cases), and 15–74 years old (+33%, or +1,566 cases). At the regional level, SOS Médecins medical procedures for suspected COVID-19 are on the rise in all regions except Centre-Val-de-Loire and Corsica. The sharpest increases are observed in Pays de la Loire (+85%, or +239 procedures), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (+67%, or 326 cases), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (+49%, or 314 cases), and Île-de-France (+47%, or 439 cases). Since monitoring began on March 3, 2020, 289,599 medical procedures for suspected COVID-19 have been performed.

Among other indicators, during this back-to-school week, the majority are on the rise among children aged 2–14. Aside from COVID-19, the sharpest increase in Week 1 among 2–14-year-olds as well as among adults aged 15–74 the most significant increases were for acute abdominal pain (respectively +86%, or +187 procedures, and +26%, or +259 procedures) and, to a lesser extent, influenza/flu-like illness (respectively +30%, or +117 procedures, and +16%, or +278 procedures). Of note among children under 2 years of age: a 55% decrease in procedures for bronchiolitis and an increase in procedures for vomiting (+59%).