Key Points

In Week 06, COVID-19 syndromic surveillance indicators in private practice and hospital settings were declining at the regional level.

Regarding virological indicators, incidence rates were decreasing in most departments (with the exception of Hérault, which remained stable) and remained at high levels across the entire region. Positivity rates were also decreasing, and testing rates were generally stable.

Weekly numbers of new hospital admissions were decreasing in week 06, as were admissions to intensive care units compared to the previous week. The number of reports from long-term care facilities (Ehpad) decreased over the past week, as did the number of cases among residents, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Estimates of the effective reproduction number (R_e) for Occitanie were, as of February 16, decreasing compared to the previous week and significantly below 1 for two analyzed data sources (SI-DEP and SI-VIC).

Regarding mortality data, despite a decrease in the weekly number of deaths from all causes in week 05 at the regional level, excess deaths significantly higher than expected were estimated in several departments (Haute-Garonne and Tarn-et-Garonne). The number of hospital deaths remained stable at the regional level in week 06.

In Occitanie and for week 06, the indicators appear to show a continued slowdown in viral spread since week 05, although the level of circulation remains very high. Although the effects are visible in hospital indicators (decrease in new hospitalizations and ICU admissions), the favorable trend in these indicators should be interpreted with caution given the spread of new variants of concern in the region.