COVID-19 Cases Decline Nationally, But Eastern Departments See Continued Emergency Room Activity
PARIS – New data released October 22, 2025, by Public Health France indicates a national decline in COVID-19 incidence, estimated at 28 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, down from 40 per 100,000 the previous week. However, a regional disparity persists, with departments in the eastern half of the country experiencing a disproportionately higher number of COVID-related emergency room visits.
While the majority of France’s departments reported a decrease in COVID-19 cases presenting to emergency services,25 departments saw an increase. Notably, Charente experienced a 110% rise, Haute-Marne a 185% increase, and Landes saw a surge of over 200%. Conversely, Allier and Val-d’Oise reported zero COVID-19 cases in their emergency rooms, representing a 100% decrease, while Vienne and Somme saw declines exceeding 70%.
Currently, Drôme, Ariège, and Hauts-de-Seine are the moast affected departments, with 1.58%, 1.37%, and 1.22% of emergency room visits attributed to COVID-19, respectively. Hautes-Pyrénées are just above 1%, while Calvados and Bas-Rhin are slightly below.Several other departments, including Yvelines, Somme, Seine-Maritime, Saône-et-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Oise, Alpes-Maritimes, Indre-et-Loire and Haute-Loire, report COVID-19 accounting for less than 0.2% of emergency visits.
suspected COVID-19 cases accounted for 1,504 emergency room visits, representing 0.4% of all visits, a decrease from 0.5% the prior week. A national vaccination campaign targeting those over 65 and at-risk individuals, including pregnant women, began October 14, with Health Insurance sending invitations for cost-free vaccination.
