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. However, the continued identification of new cases by laboratories in the region indicates that person-to-person transmission of the virus is ongoing. It is therefore important to continue adhering to hygiene, protective, and physical distancing measures in order to minimize the emergence or persistence of transmission chains.

What’s new in this Update for the region?

During this period of reopening, the level of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in the community remains limited in the region. In weeks 20 and 21 (May 11–24), the positive trend in COVID-19 indicators continues compared to previous weeks
:- SOS Médecins medical consultations for suspected COVID-19 remain stable compared to previous weeks;
- a continued decrease in emergency room visits for suspected COVID-19;
- a continued decrease in new hospitalizations and new admissions to intensive care units for COVID-19 patients.
No significant excess mortality from all causes and across all age groups was observed in the region or at the departmental level during weeks 19 and 20 (May 4–17).
As of May 27, 7 clusters are under investigation in the region, primarily in workplaces, healthcare facilities, and among vulnerable populations (see pages 6–7).
This Epidemiological Update presents on page 13 the initial results of surveillance among healthcare workers. As of May 24, 2020, 59 facilities had participated in the surveillance, and 801 cases had been recorded since March 1, 2020 (provisional data).

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 case management 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 (Regional Health Agencies, Santé publique France, CPIA, National Education, etc.) essential for the early identification, characterization, and management of any situation involving clusters of cases or localized resurgence of the epidemic.

Santé Publique France continues its surveillance activities by conducting a daily contextualized regional analysis. This analysis draws on surveillance systems and provides regional health authorities and the Ministry of Health with a comprehensive set of indicators to monitor the COVID-19 epidemic on a daily basis.

The Pays de la Loire Regional Health Agency (ARS) regularly publishes extensive information on COVID-19 on its website to prevent, inform, and support healthcare providers and the population of the Loire region. This Weekly Epidemiological Report summarizes all available surveillance indicators for monitoring the epidemic in the region.