Key Points

COVID-19

In the Pays de la Loire region, the spread of Covid-19 is intensifying, impacting the healthcare system and the demand for medical care.

In Week 47, the regional Covid-19 incidence rate continued to rise, exceeding 250 per 100,000 inhabitants and approaching the highest rates recorded during the third wave of the pandemic (March–April 2021). The positivity rate has also increased in recent weeks, though less markedly (+0.3 percentage points in Week 47). The incidence rate was rising across all age groups, particularly among those under 65, who had higher rates than those aged 65 and older (the highest rate was among those aged 30–45). Those under 15 continued to show a high incidence rate in week 47, associated with a high testing rate. As in mainland France, the L452R mutation (primarily carried by the Delta variant) remained the overwhelming majority among regionally screened results.

Bronchiolitis

For the 7th consecutive week, the region is in an epidemic phase of bronchiolitis in week 47, like other metropolitan regions (see map opposite). Following a slight decline linked to school holidays and the November 11 long weekend, healthcare utilization for bronchiolitis among children under 2 years of age (particularly emergency department visits) has been rising since week 46, remaining at high levels and well above alert thresholds. This increase is linked to the sharp rise in RSV circulation reported by the virology laboratories at the Nantes and Angers University Hospitals last week.