COVID-19 Infection Epidemic in the South Pacific Island of New Caledonia and in the Greater Paris: Where Is the Highest Wave?

Merlin, Elisabeth; Goix, Laurent; Moret, Caroline; Petrovic, Tomislav; Langeron, Frédéric; Chanzy, Erick; Aguadisch, Elise; Adnet, Frédéric; Reuter, Paul-Georges; Delvau, Nicolas; Lapostolle, Frédéric

INTRODUCTION: New-Caledonia, an island located in the South-Pacific, was the first (overseas) French country hit by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to come out of lockdown. The epidemic was rapidly controlled. Analyzing the impact of an epidemic only makes sense if it is compared with a zone with a similar health care system. OBJECTIVE: To compare epidemic evolution in New-Caledonia and Paris suburb. METHODS: Health care organization is similar in New-Caledonia and Seine-Saint-Denis, based on an Emergency Medical System call center. We recorded the numbers of patients managed by SAMU (Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente)-Emergency Medical System, transferred to the emergency department and managed in prehospital setting by mobile intensive care unit. We compared these parameters during the reference (February 1-23, 2020) and the COVID-19 (February 24, 2020, to April 19, 2020) periods. Primary end-point: number of days over the 95th percentile of the reference period. RESULTS: Number of patients managed was over the 95th percentile during 27 and 47 days in New-Caledonia and Seine-Saint-Denis, respectively. Number of emergency department transfers was more than the 95th percentile during 4 and 31 days, respectively. Number of mobile intensive care unit sent was over the 95th percentile during 3 and 14 days, respectively. Peaks were similar. CONCLUSION: The duration of the critical period rather than its spread affected the health care system.