Cécile Souty1, Caroline Guerrisi1, Shirley Masse2, Bruno Lina3, Sylvie van der Werf4, Sibylle Bernard-Stoecklin5, Clément Turbelin1, Alessandra Falchi2, Thomas Hanslik1,6,7, Thierry Blanchon1. 1. Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'épidémiologie et de Santé publique (IPLESP), Paris, France. 2. UR 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse, Corte, France. 3. Laboratoire de Virologie des HCL, Institut des Agents Infectieux, CNR des virus à transmission respiratoire (dont la grippe), Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Lyon, France. 4. National Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses, Molecular Genetics of RNA Viruses, CNRS UMR 3569, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Paris, France. 5. Santé Publique France, Direction des maladies infectieuses, Saint-Maurice, France. 6. Faculty of Health Sciences Simone Veil, University of Versailles Saint Quentin - University of Paris, Versailles, France. 7. Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Hôpital Ambroise Paré, Service de Médecine Interne, Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 several countries implemented measures to reduce the number of contacts such as a national lockdown. We estimated the impact of the first lockdown on the burden of COVID-19 in the community in France. METHODS: Physicians participating in the French Sentinelles network reported the number of patients with an acute respiratory infection (ARI) seen in consultation and performed nasopharyngeal swabs in a sample of these patients (first patient of the week). The swabs were tested by RT-PCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Clinical and virological data were combined to estimate ARI incidence attributable to SARS-CoV-2 from 17 March to 10 May 2020. RESULTS: The incidence of ARI attributable to COVID-19 decreased after the second week of the lockdown period from 142 (95%CI [101; 183]) to 41 (95%CI [21; 60]) per 100,000 population. A decrease was observed in all areas in metropolitan France. The youngest age groups (<15-years-old) were least affected with a cumulated incidence estimated to 14 per 100,000 population during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The data collected in primary care suggests that the first lockdown implemented in France during spring 2020 significantly reduced the incidence of acute respiratory infections including COVID-19 in France and limited the geographic spread of SARS-CoV-2.
BACKGROUND: To limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 several countries implemented measures to reduce the number of contacts such as a national lockdown. We estimated the impact of the first lockdown on the burden of COVID-19 in the community in France. METHODS: Physicians participating in the French Sentinelles network reported the number of patients with an acute respiratory infection (ARI) seen in consultation and performed nasopharyngeal swabs in a sample of these patients (first patient of the week). The swabs were tested by RT-PCR for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Clinical and virological data were combined to estimate ARI incidence attributable to SARS-CoV-2 from 17 March to 10 May 2020. RESULTS: The incidence of ARI attributable to COVID-19 decreased after the second week of the lockdown period from 142 (95%CI [101; 183]) to 41 (95%CI [21; 60]) per 100,000 population. A decrease was observed in all areas in metropolitan France. The youngest age groups (<15-years-old) were least affected with a cumulated incidence estimated to 14 per 100,000 population during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The data collected in primary care suggests that the first lockdown implemented in France during spring 2020 significantly reduced the incidence of acute respiratory infections including COVID-19 in France and limited the geographic spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Authors: Ryusuke Ae; Yoshihide Shibata; Toshiki Furuno; Teppei Sasahara; Yosikazu Nakamura; Hiromichi Hamada Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-06 Impact factor: 4.614