Key Points

Despite the presence of multiple clusters, the positivity rate in Brittany remains low. Indicators of disease severity (hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care) remain stable, while the number of newly diagnosed cases is increasing. Visits to emergency departments for suspected Covid-19 remain generally stable across all age groups.

• As of August 4, 2020, 3,962 confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been diagnosed by RT-PCR in the region since the start of the epidemic, including 308 in week 31.

• Virology: Low positivity rate, at 1.0% in week 31. More than 1,600 tests were performed in week 31 in the region.

• SI-VIC: The majority of hospitalizations occurred in Ille-et-Vilaine. The majority of deaths occurred in Morbihan (36%) and Ille-et-Vilaine (33%).

• ESMS: From March 1, 2020, through August 6, 456 facilities reported an outbreak, including 125 confirmed by one or more confirmed cases—residents or staff members—linked to COVID-19 in Brittany. These included 288 (63%) nursing homes (EHPAD) and 168 (37%) other medical-social facilities (EMS). All 456 reports corresponded to a total of COVID-19 cases (377 confirmed cases and 1,924 possible cases) among residents, of whom 257 were hospitalized. Among these possible and confirmed cases, 89 died in the facilities and 60 died in the hospital out of the total 456 reports; in the 125 facilities with a confirmed case, there were 71 deaths in the facility and 52 in the hospital, respectively.

• Oscour: In Week 31, 100 emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19 were reported by the Oscour® network, representing 0.7% of coded activity. Of these visits, 22.0% were reported among those aged 65 and older, 30.0% among those aged 45–64, 34.0% among those aged 15–44, and 14.0% among those under 15. In Week 32 (partial data), as of August 4, 2020, Breton emergency departments reported 15 visits for suspected COVID-19, representing 0.4% of total coded activity. From early March through August 4, 2020, a total of 6,039 visits for suspected coronavirus were recorded.

• SOS Médecins: In week 31, the Breton SOS Médecins associations reported 109 cases of suspected COVID-19, representing 3.8% of total coded activity. Of these cases, 11.0% were reported among those aged 65 and older, 15.6% among those aged 45–64, 60.0% among those aged 15–44, and 17.4% among those under 15. In week 32 (partial data), as of August 4, 2020, the SOS Médecins associations in Brittany reported 41 cases of suspected COVID-19, representing 5.8% of total coded activity. From early March through August 4, 2020, a total of 2,088 SOS Médecins cases involving suspected coronavirus were recorded.