COVID-19 in the vulnerable population of the Saint-Jacques and Haut-Vernet districts of Perpignan (France): health surveillance carried out using local data

A sudden increase in the number of cases and deaths with a diagnosis of COVID-19 was observed in Perpignan strating on 13 March 2020 This increase particularly concerned the population of the Saint-Jacques and Haut-Vernet districts, which mainly belongs to the gypsy community The signal encouraged the implementation of a specific surveillance of this this epidemic, relying mainly on data from dedicated COVID centers The indicators monitored have shown a rapid growth in the number of cases in the last two weeks of March and then decline until the end of containment (early May) The circulation of the virus had been greater in the two targeted districts in Perpignan, where more than 2% of the population reported clinical symptoms compatible with a COVID-19 infection during their consultation From 24 February to 10 May 2020, the relative incidence of consultations for suspected COVID-19 in Saint-Jacques and Haut-Vernet districts were three times higher than in the rest of the city of Perpignan, reflecting a significant burden disease These surveillance results call for additional studies to better quantify the health impact of this type of event and identify the key factors on which it would be possible to act to limit the circulation of the virus in these communities