Key Points

Adoption of protective measures and behaviors

• A significant decline in adherence to physical distancing recommendations and an increase in risky social behaviors were observed from the lifting of the first lockdown (mid-May) through October 2020.

• A relaxation of precautionary behaviors likely contributed to the resurgence of viral circulation during the summer of 2020, its acceleration in September (notably with the resumption of school and work activities), and the onset of the second wave of the pandemic beginning in October 2020.

• Among hygiene measures, only the adoption of mask-wearing in public has been steadily increasing since the start of the epidemic, despite a decline since November 2020 (-10 points).

• Lower adherence to preventive measures (hygiene and physical distancing) is more commonly found among men, people under 35, and those with low health literacy.

Mental Health

• Since September 2020, there has been an increase in reported anxiety and depressive disorders among participants in the Grand Est region in the CoviPrev surveys.

• A continued increase in depressive (+15 points) and anxiety (+5 points) disorders, but no change in reported sleep problems.

• A regional prevalence higher than the national average and that of other regions for depressive disorders, and a lower prevalence for reported sleep problems.

• Anxiety and depressive disorders and sleep problems are associated with being in a difficult financial situation, being female, being under 35 years of age, and being at risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19.