Continues to increase positivity for SARS-CoV2 in the community by including hard indicators (admissions, intubations, deaths). In particular, admissions are showing a large increase and in the week of July 1-7, according to the epidemiological report of the EHRC, they reached 575. The new mutations F456L and R346T seem to have been prevalent in recent weeks.

“Increased virus activity is being recorded, with an increasing trend in hospital admissions. It is recommended that vulnerable population groups (the elderly and people with underlying diseases) adhere meticulously to preventive measures against respiratory tract infections and seek medical advice on symptoms in time to administer timely treatment. At the same time, it is recommended that the general population, in the presence of symptoms of respiratory tract infection, limit contact with people belonging to vulnerable groups”, EODY says.

In particular, the report states:

Irritable Illness – ILI (regardless of pathogen):

The number of cases of influenza-like illness per 1,000 visits remains low.

The number of cases of influenza-like illness per 1,000 visits remains low.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection – SARI (regardless of pathogen)

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

SARS-CoV2 virus – COVID-19 infection

Positivity in all samples tested showed an increase compared to the previous week.

The number of new admissions was 575 and is showing an increasing trend. The average weekly number of new admissions over the previous four weeks was 380 and the number of admissions in the corresponding week in 2023 was 198.

The number of new intubations was nine. The average weekly number of new intubations in the previous four weeks was four and the number of intubations in the corresponding week in 2023 was five. The number of patients with COVID-19 infection hospitalized with intubation is 13.

The number of deaths was 21. The average weekly number of deaths in the previous four weeks was 13 and the number of deaths in the corresponding week of 2023 was 16.

BA.2.86 with the F456L and R346T mutations (a new class of variant strains under surveillance as of 4/6) appears to have been prevalent in recent weeks.

Municipal wastewater viral load monitoring showed an increase in SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in eight of the ten sites monitored.

The surveillance of viral load in urban wastewater showed an increase in SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in eight of the ten sites monitored.

Influenza virus

No positive samples for influenza were detected in both community (Sentinel PHC surveillance network) and hospital (SARI surveillance network) settings. No new severe cases with ICU hospitalization or new deaths from laboratory-confirmed influenza were recorded.

Respiratory syncytial virus – RSV No positive samples were detected both in the community (Sentinel PHC surveillance network) and in hospitals (SARI surveillance network).