Summary

What is currently known about the situation in the Pays de la Loire region?

The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 were detected in late February in the Pays de la Loire region, followed by a first wave of the epidemic. Community spread of the virus, as observed through various surveillance indicators (SOS Médecins, emergency departments, laboratories, intensive care admissions, etc.), peaked in week 13 of 2020 (March 23–29) in the region. With the implementation of lockdown measures on March 17, COVID-19-related activity then gradually declined. During this period, the Pays de la Loire region, like other regions along the Atlantic coast, was one of the least affected regions.
For several weeks now, trends in surveillance indicators have shown that the epidemic has stabilized at a low level, though the virus continues to circulate in the community. It is therefore important to continue following hygiene, protective, and physical distancing measures to minimize the emergence or persistence of transmission chains.

What’s new in this Update for the region?

Four weeks after the lifting of lockdown measures, the level of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in the community remains limited in the region. In Week 23 (June 1–7), the favorable trend in COVID-19 indicators (both in the community and in hospitals) continued compared to previous weeks.
Despite this limited circulation, clusters of cases are being identified and investigated with the aim of controlling transmission chains. As of June 10, 17 clusters (excluding nursing homes and small family settings) had been reported in the region, 7 of which are currently under investigation, primarily in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and among vulnerable populations (see page 6).
This Epidemiological Update, dedicated to COVID-19, is the final publication covering this first wave of the epidemic. The next Epidemiological Update (including both COVID-19 indicators and summer indicators) will be released on Thursday, June 25, and then every two weeks if the COVID-19 epidemic remains stable.

What are the public health implications in the region?

The lifting of lockdown measures related to the COVID-19 epidemic and the resumption of normal daily activities are accompanied by a contact-tracing system put in place to prevent the virus from spreading again. It is structured into three levels that work together 24/7:

• Healthcare professionals (particularly private practitioners and laboratories) are on the front lines for managing cases and identifying the immediate circle of contacts.

• Local contact tracing platforms, bringing together expertise from the Health Insurance system and the Regional Health Agency, are responsible for identifying and monitoring new cases and providing support (isolation and compliance with lockdown measures, sick leave, diagnosis, contact tracing, and follow-up of cases and their contacts).

• This system is supplemented by departmental and regional expert teams combining multidisciplinary expertise (ARS, Santé publique France, CPIA, National Education, etc.) essential for the early identification, characterization, and management of any situation involving clusters or localized resurgence of the epidemic.

Public Health France continues to monitor all COVID-19 indicators to track the evolution of the epidemic. The Pays de la Loire Regional Health Agency (ARS) continues to regularly publish extensive information on COVID-19 on its website to prevent, inform, and support healthcare providers and the population of the Loire region.