Key Points

In the Grand Est region, the number of new cases increased in week 32 of 2021 (8,301 compared to 7,277 in week 31 of 2021), as did the number of people tested (363,082 in week 32 of 2021 compared to 261,200 in week 31 of 2021). The incidence rate is also rising to 151 new cases per 100,000 residents, well above the threshold for active viral circulation (set at 50 per 100,000 residents). The positivity rate, meanwhile, remains stable (2.3% compared to 2.8% in week 31 of 2021).

Viral circulation is on the rise across all age groups: this increase is most pronounced among those aged 50 and older, as well as among children aged 0–9. Incidence rates range from 45 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants among those aged 80 and older to 304 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants among those aged 20–29. Viral circulation is on the rise in most departments in the region. It remains stable in Marne, Meuse, and Bas-Rhin. In week 32 of 2021, incidence rates now all exceed the threshold for active viral circulation of 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Haut-Rhin, Moselle, and Bas-Rhin have the highest incidence rates, with 219, 185, and 156 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively.

A new screening strategy targeting the variants of interest E484K, E484Q, and L452R is being implemented due to their impact on transmissibility (L452R) or immune escape (E484K and E484Q). The L452R mutation is by far the most prevalent in weeks 32–21 in the Grand Est region, with a screening rate of 66%, and its prevalence continues to rise with a positivity rate of 96.1%. It exceeds 86% in all departments of the region. Note that the Ardennes and Aube departments had low screening rates in week 32 (51% and 45%, respectively).

Viral circulation continues to cause severe cases of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization—with the most severe cases requiring intensive care—as well as deaths. Pressure on the regional healthcare system continued to rise in week 32 of 2021. Thus:

• the number of emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19 continues to rise (323 visits in week 32 and 287 in week 31) and accounts for 1.4% of the region’s emergency department activity;

• the number of new hospitalizations (n=225) and the number of new admissions to intensive care units (n=46) for Covid-19 have increased compared to the previous week (by 29% and 7%, respectively);

• the number of Covid-19-related deaths in healthcare facilities remains stable (n=15 in week 32 and n=12 in week 31). Between September 1, 2020, and August 15, 2021, 6,598 hospitalized Covid-19 patients died in the region’s healthcare facilities;

• the number of consultations for suspected Covid-19 by the region’s SOS Médecins associations increased in week 32 (202 consultations in week 32 and 188 in week 31), representing 4.4% of consultations (4.3% the previous week).

In the region’s social and medical-social facilities, since September 1, 2020, 11,740 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported among residents and 5,950 among staff. Facilities for the elderly were the hardest hit: they accounted for 78% of these cases among residents and 78% among staff. Since September 1, 2020, 1,014 residents of medical and non-medical facilities for the elderly have died within their care facilities.

As of August 15 in the Grand Est region, 3,815,193 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (vaccination coverage: 69.2%). Of these, 3,248,806 had completed their vaccination series (vaccination coverage: 58.9%). It should be noted that vaccination coverage estimates are based on data from the health insurance system, which reports the number of people by vaccination site (rather than place of residence). During this period of increased vaccination activity—particularly in vacation destinations and areas with high population mobility due to summer vacations—this may introduce biases in the estimates.