Key Points - Infection with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19

In Brittany, the positivity rate increased in week 41 compared to week 40 (TP=7.0 in week 41) across all age groups. The number of new hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the region remained stable in week 41.

• Virology: More than 42,900 RT-PCR tests were performed in week 41 in the region. As of October 12, 2020, more than 17,403 cases had been diagnosed by RT-PCR since the start of the epidemic.

• SI-VIC: The majority of current hospitalizations are in Ille-et-Vilaine. The majority of deaths since the start of the epidemic have occurred in Ille-et-Vilaine (35.7%) and in Morbihan (34.0%).

• ESMS: From March 1, 2020, through October 15, 663 facilities reported an outbreak, including 250 confirmed by one or more confirmed cases—residents or staff members—linked to COVID-19 in Brittany. These included 422 (64%) nursing homes for the elderly (EHPAD) and 241 (36%) other medical-social facilities (EMS). The 663 reports corresponded to a total of 3,925 cases of COVID-19 (694 confirmed cases and 3,231 possible cases) among residents, of whom 299 were hospitalized. Among these possible and confirmed cases, 107 died in the facilities and 76 died in the hospital out of the total 663 reports; in the 250 facilities with a confirmed case, there were 89 deaths in the facility and 67 deaths in the hospital, respectively.

• Oscour: In Week 41, 148 emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19 were reported by the Oscour® network, representing 1.1% of coded activity. Among these visits, 32.4% were reported among those aged 65 and older, 19.6% among those aged 45–64, 39.2% among those aged 15–44, and 8.8% among those under 15. An increase in emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19 was observed in Week 41, rising by 10.4% among those aged 65 and older (10 additional cases in this age group). In week 41, the number of hospitalizations following visits to the emergency department for suspected COVID-19 reported by the Oscour network appears stable. From early March through October 13, 2020, a total of 7,352 visits for suspected coronavirus were recorded. Note: A data transmission issue was observed for the Brest HIA data starting October 12, 2020, and unresolved data transmission issues for the Vannes General Hospital (adult and pediatric emergency departments) in week 38.

• SOS Médecins: In Week 41, the Breton SOS Médecins associations reported 133 cases involving suspected COVID-19, representing 4.9% of total coded activity. Of these cases, 5.3% were reported among those aged 65 and older, 9.0% among those aged 45–64, 69.9% among those aged 15–44, and 15.8% among those under 15. The decline in calls to SOS Médecins for suspected COVID-19 has continued since Week 38, affecting all age groups except those aged 65 and older. From early March through October 13, 2020, a total of 3,688 SOS Médecins procedures for suspected coronavirus were recorded.