Key Points

In Week 45 (November 8–14, 2021), total activity at SOS Médecins clinics increased across all age groups (+7%, or +5,934 visits) except among children under 2 years old (-5%, or -2,035 visits).

Procedures for suspected COVID-19 increased for the second consecutive week (+40%). In total, 1,639 procedures were recorded in Week 45 (vs. 1,174 procedures in Week 44, or +465 procedures). All age groups were affected by this increase, with moderate numbers observed in the extreme age groups (under 2 years and 75 years and older). Cases due to suspected COVID-19 rank eighth among the most common conditions in the 15–74 age group. At the regional level, these cases are rising in most regions. The sharpest increases are observed in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (+95%, or +117 cases), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (+62%, or +77 cases), and PACA (+50%, or +74 cases). Since monitoring began on March 3, 2020, 255,468 medical procedures for suspected COVID-19 have been performed.

Seasonal respiratory indicators are declining, except for procedures for influenza/influenza-like illness across all age groups (+28%, or +176 procedures). Compared to previous years, the observed levels are similar or even lower, with the exception of procedures for bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age (down 20% after 9 consecutive weeks of increase) and ENT conditions in those aged 15 and older. Treatments for gastroenteritis across all age groups continue to rise (+26%, or +1,370 treatments, the sharpest increase across all age groups since COVID-19). There was also an increase in visits for vomiting (+41%, or +316 visits), isolated fever (+24%, or +227 visits), and trauma (+15%, or +329 visits) across all age groups. Among other indicators, the main increases were in acute abdominal pain among those aged 2–14 (+64%) and 15–74 (+13%), and in general health deterioration (+38%) among those aged 75 and older.