Key Points

In Week 33 (August 16–22, 2021), a slowdown in SARS-CoV-2 transmission and a slower rise in hospital indicators were observed in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Despite continued high testing activity (+0.3% compared to Week 32), the regional incidence rate (198 per 100,000 inhabitants) has decreased by 14%, and the positivity rate has dropped by 0.5 percentage points (3.1%). This decline in incidence is the first recorded after seven consecutive weeks of upward trends. The decrease in virological indicators affects all departments in the region, with the exception of Ardèche. The Rhône still has the highest incidence rate (267 per 100,000 inhabitants), followed by Drôme (247), Ardèche (226), Haute-Savoie (219), and Savoie (204). The incidence is generally declining across all age groups, including among young adults (ages 20–29), who remain the most affected age group with 317 per 100,000 inhabitants.

In week 33, the number of patients seeking care for suspected COVID-19 decreased at SOS-Médecins clinics (-16%) and also in emergency department visits (-14%) for the first time since early July.

At this stage, the slowdown in viral circulation has not yet translated into a reduction in hospital impact: new hospitalizations, new admissions to critical care units, and hospital deaths continue to rise, though at a slower rate than the previous week (up 7%, 17%, and 14%, respectively, in Week 33). As of August 24, 2021, the total number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients reached 1,090 (+2%), including 207 in critical care units (+13%).

Vaccination coverage continues to increase regionally, particularly among healthcare workers in recent weeks. As of August 24, 2021, 71% of the total regional population had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine since the start of the campaign, and 63.5% of the population had received a full vaccination series.