Key Points

In the Grand Est region, the number of new cases in week 25-21 continues to decline, while the number of people tested remains high (141,432 compared to 167,795 in week 24-21). Thus, the incidence rate has declined for the twelfth consecutive week, and with 13 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, it remains below the threshold for active viral circulation (set at 50 per 100,000). The positivity rate is stable this week (0.5% compared to 0.7% in week 24-21).

Viral circulation varies by age group, with the highest rates observed among those aged 20–29 and 10–19 (23 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants and 22 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively). It should be noted that the 18–49 age group is currently the least vaccinated. Viral circulation
is decreasing in all departments of the region except for the Ardennes (18 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and Aube (7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), where the incidence rate is stable.

A new screening strategy is being implemented to detect the mutations of interest E484K, E484Q, and L452R due to their impact on transmissibility (L452R) or immune escape (E484K and E484Q). In week 25-21, 452 screening tests targeting the L452R mutation (Delta variant, known as the “Indian” variant) were conducted in the region, of which 123 tested positive (27.2%). Of these, 75 were residents of Bas-Rhin (44% positivity rate) and 21 of Moselle (38% positivity rate). These results indicate increasing community
transmission of the Delta variant in weeks 25–21, with a positivity rate exceeding 20% in 5 of the region’s departments.

Viral circulation continues to cause severe cases of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization—with the most severe cases requiring intensive care—as well as deaths. However, the pressure on the regional healthcare system continues to decrease. Thus:

• the number of emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19 continues to decline. For the fifth consecutive week, it accounts for less than 1% of the region’s emergency department activity;

• the number of new hospitalizations (n=55) and new admissions to intensive care units (n=8) for COVID-19 have decreased compared to the previous week by 44% and 62%, respectively;

• The number of Covid-19-related deaths in healthcare facilities remains stable (n=23 versus n=18 in week 24-21);

• the number of consultations for suspected Covid-19 at the region’s SOS Médecins associations is stabilizing, accounting for 1.2% of consultations compared to 1.3% the previous week.

In the region’s social and medical-social care facilities, since September 1, 2020, 11,659 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported among residents and 5,889 among staff. Facilities for the elderly are the hardest hit: they account for 78% of these cases among residents and 78% among staff. Since September 1, 2020, 1,669 residents of medical and non-medical care facilities for the elderly have died, including 1,014 (60%) residents of nursing homes who died within their care facilities. As of June 29, 2021, in the Grand Est region, 2,836,693 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (vaccination coverage 51.5%), of whom 1,904,074 had completed their vaccination series (vaccination coverage 34.5%).