Key Points

In Occitanie, the risk of community transmission and severe cases (hospitalizations and ICU admissions) continues to rise

During Week 40, syndromic surveillance indicators representing mild forms of the disease were relatively stable at the regional level compared to the previous week (emergency department visits and SOS Médecins associations, outpatient consultations). Indicators from ESMS surveillance were also stable compared to the previous week. The number of
non-ICU hospitalizations and ICU admissions continued to rise (up 24% and 12%, respectively, compared to the previous week). Gard, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, and Tarn saw the sharpest increases.

Indicators of viral circulation in the general population rose over the past week, reaching high levels in most departments of the region. The departments with the highest viral circulation in the population were Gard, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, and Tarn. People aged 20–30 remained the most affected age group, but positivity rates continued to rise among adults aged 30 and older. Particular attention is being paid to the 45 sports-related clusters identified in the region, 98% of which are linked to amateur sports settings. Occitanie is the region with the highest number of reported clusters in sports settings. Ultimately, the high and rising levels of virological indicators, along with the increase in hospitalizations for COVID-19, reflect both an increased risk of transmission within the population and a growing number of severe cases.

As of 1:00 PM on October 8, 2020, given the evolution of the epidemic, 12 departments in the region are classified as having a high vulnerability level, with only Lot remaining at moderate vulnerability (see the vulnerability map on the Santé publique France website). As of October 5, 2020, 12 departments in the region were classified as active transmission zones (excluding Lot), with Haute-Garonne and Hérault in the enhanced alert zone.