Key Points

COVID-19

• In week 48, most indicators continued to decline, confirming the retreat of the epidemic in the Normandy region. Thus, the incidence rate, the positivity rate, the number of new hospitalizations (both general wards and intensive care), and the number of reported clusters are all decreasing. The effective reproduction number, which reflects the rate of spread, has fallen below 1 since week 46.

• Regarding mortality, the age-standardized excess mortality rate for all causes has been classified as moderate since week 43 but appears to be decreasing (to be confirmed in the coming weeks). The weekly number of deaths among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 is decreasing.

Mortality

Since week 43, the age-standardized all-cause mortality rate in the Normandy region has been moderately elevated but appears to be decreasing (to be confirmed in the coming weeks). The number of deaths among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 is stable compared to the previous week.

Bronchiolitis and gastroenteritis

• In week 48, bronchiolitis activity remains low and below levels seen in previous years. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), responsible for the majority of bronchiolitis cases in children under 2 years of age, has not yet been isolated in the laboratories of Normandy university hospitals. Current respiratory infections are primarily caused by rhinoviruses.

• In week 48, activity for gastroenteritis is also low.