Key Points

• In week 04, COVID-19 syndromic surveillance indicators (use of emergency care, visits to private practices) were on the rise at the regional level.

• Regarding virological indicators, incidence rates were rising in several departments (particularly in Lot, Haute-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Aude, and Tarn) and were at high levels across most of the region. However, this indicator must be interpreted in light of an overall increase in testing activity. Positivity rates, on the other hand, were stable or decreasing overall.

• Weekly numbers of new hospital admissions and admissions to critical care units (ICUs and other critical care units) were rising in week 04 compared to the previous week. The number of reported cases in nursing homes was also rising for the third consecutive week.

• As of February 2, R-value estimates for Occitanie were significantly above 1 for all three data sources: SI-DEP, OSCOUR®, and SI-VIC.

• Regarding mortality data, the weekly number of deaths from all causes observed in week 03 at the regional level was stable and still significantly higher than expected. Significant excesses among those aged 65 and older were observed in Gard, Haute-Garonne, Lot, Lozère, Hautes-Pyrénées, and Tarn. The number of hospital deaths was increasing at the regional level in week 04.

• Overall, epidemiological indicators were on the rise in Week 04 in Occitanie. The situation remains concerning, particularly due to the increase in hospital indicators reflecting the most severe forms of COVID-19.