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EMS dispatch center activity during the COVID-19 containment To the Editor: Since reported in late December 2019 from the Hubei province in China, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide with more than 6 million confirmed cases by the end of May 2020 [1]. In Europe, emergency departments (ED) noticed a decrease of daily visits since the beginning of the outbreak, which majored during the implementation of containment measures [2]. However, to date, no data reported Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatch center activity during COVID-19 containment. This retrospective study was conducted at the EMS dispatch center of Nantes University Hospital, France, from March 17th to May 11th 2020, corresponding to the lockdown period in France. We also collected data from the two same time periods of 2018 and 2019. Data were extracted from the advanced telephone that automatically keeps track of all incoming calls. Quantitative variables reported using median were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test, p-values were adjusted with the Bonferroni method. Qualitative data reported using percentage were compared using Chi-square test, p-values were adjusted with the false discovery rate method. During the containment period, we received 69,845 calls (1216 calls/ day, 1021-1391). Compared to 2019 and 2018, the number of calls increased during the first thirteen days of the containment (+31% and 33%, p < .001 for both), but followed by a significant decrease (−11% and −13%, p = .01 and p < .001, Fig. 1). Compared to 2019, we observed

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The occupation rate appeared to be the most important factor contributing towards the QS20. Our data will be useful to develop best practices and guidelines in the field of emergency medicine communication centres.