Key Points

COVID-19

• The epidemic trend appears to be continuing a decline in SARS-CoV-2 viral circulation.

• Incidence and positivity rates are decreasing across all departments. This trend is consistent with the trend observed in France.

• The Omicron variant is circulating almost exclusively in the region, with the BA.5 sublineage predominating, accounting for 95% of interpretable sequences from the Flash S51 survey (based on 59 interpretable sequences as of 12/19).

• The share of COVID-19 cases in the total caseload of SOS Médecins associations is stable (1.2% vs. 1.3% in Week 1), as is the share of suspected COVID-19 cases in emergency departments (1.0% vs. 1.3% in Week 1).

• The weekly number of new hospitalizations has been decreasing for the fourth consecutive week (225 vs. 257 in Week 1 and 424 in Week 2). The number of new admissions to critical care remains stable (22 vs. 27 in Week 1). The number of deaths in hospitals is decreasing (24 vs. 39 in Week 1).

Bronchiolitis

• Epidemic phase.

• The region remains in the epidemic phase.

• Bronchiolitis activity among children under 2 years of age has continued to decline in emergency departments over the past four weeks and has stabilized for calls to SOS Médecins.

Influenza

• Epidemic phase.

• Activity for flu-like illness continues to decline across all age groups in emergency departments and for SOS Médecins calls for the second consecutive week. The number of hospitalizations following emergency department visits among those over 65 began to decline this week.

• 24 reports of clusters of acute respiratory infections in long-term care facilities, including 4 confirmed cases of influenza.

• 24 severe cases of influenza admitted to intensive care units reported by the sentinel network of intensive care units.

Acute Gastroenteritis

• The activity rate at SOS Médecins clinics is increasing this week, slightly exceeding the level observed for the 2020-2021 season. The activity rate in emergency departments is high but remains below last season’s level.