Key Points

COVID-19

In week 38, viral circulation declined for the fourth consecutive week, with the incidence rate falling below 100 cases per 100,000 residents to 72 per 100,000. The testing rate continued to decline, with 804 people tested per 100,000 residents. The positivity rate was 9%, down 6 percentage points from the previous week. The effective R value also decreased, standing at 0.42.

Regarding hospital indicators, new hospitalizations continued to decline and were no longer fluctuating around 110 new hospitalizations per week. New admissions to intensive care were down slightly, and deaths remained stable.

Bronchiolitis

There was a sharp increase in emergency department visits due to bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age in Week 38 (n=53 vs. 26 in Week 37). The number of new hospitalizations also rose sharply in Week 38 (n=23 vs. 11 in Week 37). The proportion of bronchiolitis in overall activity for children under two years of age was high (13% in Week 38 vs. 7% in Week 37).

Influenza

In both outpatient and inpatient settings, based on virological surveillance, there is co-circulation of influenza viruses of subtype A (H1N1 pdm 09) and type B (presumably Victoria, but awaiting confirmation). In Week 38, the number of emergency department visits for influenza-like illness increased (27 vs. 19 in Week 37). Five new hospitalizations for influenza-like illness were recorded in Week 38, compared to 4 in Week 37. In Week 38, the health impact of influenza remained low.