Points clés

In week 16, the positivity rate (based on SI-DEP virological data) was decreasing in a context of very low screening rates. Emergency department visits were down, as were new hospital admissions. The number of deaths was slightly up for the third week in a row.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence rate in decline

  • Positivity rate falling in most age groups and regions

  • Hospital admission rate decreasing in majority of regions

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence rate increasing or stable

  • New hospital admissions still very low

Variants

• The recombinant XBB.1.5 maintained a stable majority with 58% of sequences in the week 14 Flash Survey (vs 56% in week 13)

• The BQ.1 sub-lineage continued to decrease (4% in the week 14 Flash Survey vs 6% in week 13)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 25 April 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 23.6% of 60-79 year-olds and 26.4% of 80+ year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant

  • 21.8% of 60-79 year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the last 6 months and 3.1% of 80+ year-olds in the last 3 months

• Given that SARS-CoV-2 remains in active circulation, continued compliance with preventive measures is recommended:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose of bivalent vaccine (protecting against the original strain and the Omicron variant) for eligible individuals already vaccinated with a primary series;

  • continued application of precautionary measures, particularly in case of a positive test and/or symptoms, to protect vulnerable individuals.