Key Points

COVID-19

• Regionally: After reaching 138 cases per 10⁵ residents in the second week of August (Week 32, 2021), the regional incidence rate has continued to decline for the fifth consecutive week. With a 28% decrease, the regional incidence rate is now 46.1 per 10⁵ inhabitants and remains below the national incidence rate (73 per 10⁵ inhabitants). While the testing rate is stabilizing, there is a general decline in the positivity rate across all age groups. With the start of the school year, the positivity rate among those under 14 has dropped sharply but remains high (3.4% in Week 37 vs. 5.5% in Week 36), which can be explained in particular by a 44% increase in the testing rate specific to this age group. The number of new hospitalizations and new admissions to critical care has been stable for the past five weeks. Reports of outbreaks from medical-social institutions (ESMS) also appear to be stabilizing.

• At the departmental level: Departmental incidence rates range from 22.0 per 10⁵ inhabitants (Nièvre) to 74.9 per 10⁵ inhabitants (Belfort). All departmental incidence rates are now below 100 per 10⁵.