A small decrease is recorded by positivity for SARS-CoV2 in the community and all the indicators of COVID-19 do not show appreciable change, according to the epidemiological report of EODY for the period 4-10 November. In particular:

Influenza-like illness – ILI (regardless of pathogen)

The number of influenza cases per 1,000 visits is low.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection – SARI (regardless of pathogen)

The number of SARI cases per 1,000 visits is low.

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection

The positivity in all tested samples showed a slight decrease compared to the previous week.

There was no significant change in the number of new imports compared to the previous week. 538 new arrivals were recorded, while the average weekly number of new arrivals over the previous 4 weeks was 594.

The number of new intubations was ten. The average weekly number of new intubations during the previous 4 weeks was nine. The number of intubated patients with COVID-19 infection is 28.

The number of deaths was 20. The average weekly number of deaths in the previous 4 weeks was 24.

ECDC has identified the KP.3 sub-variant of BA.2.86 as a strain of interest, while the XEC sub-variant of BA.2.86 has also been put under surveillance. Both KP.3 and XEC have not been associated with an increased risk of severe disease. The strain that continues to dominate detections is KP.3.

Nationally, the weighted viral load in municipal wastewater is at low levels compared to historical data, showing no significant change from the previous week. More specifically, in three of the ten controlled areas the levels of the viral load appear moderate (with a recorded increase compared to the previous week in one of them), while in the remaining areas the levels are low.

Influenza virus

Influenza positivity as assessed by surveillance networks in the community (PHC Sentinel Surveillance Network) and in the hospital setting (SARI Surveillance Network) is very low, with detection of only sporadic positive samples.

No new serious case with ICU hospitalization was recorded, nor was there a death from laboratory-confirmed influenza.

Overall, one laboratory-confirmed case with ICU hospitalization (subtype A(H3)) has been recorded since the start of influenza surveillance.

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV

No positive samples were found in the community (PHC Sentinel surveillance network), nor in hospitals (SARI surveillance network).