Key points

In week 18, the positivity rate (based on SI-DEP virological data) continued to decrease in a context of very low screening rates. Emergency department visits were down, as were new hospital admissions.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence rate* stable or falling in all age groups and regions

  • Positivity rate stable or down in most age groups and regions

  • Hospital admission rate in decline

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence rates* low, except in Reunion Island

  • Hospital admissions at a very low level and decreasing

Variants

• The recombinant XBB.1.5 remained in the majority with 52% of sequences in the week 16 Flash Survey (vs 53% in week 15)

• XBB.1.9 appeared to stabilise (30% in the week 16 Flash Survey vs 29% in week 15)

• The sub-lineages CH.1.1 and BQ.1 were at low levels (2% in the week 16 Flash Survey)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 9 May 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 23.8% of 60-79 year-olds and 26.6% of 80+ year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant

  • 20.0% of 60-79 year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the past 6 months and 2.0% of 80+ yearolds in the past 3 months

• In the context of the spring vaccination campaign and the active circulation of SARS-CoV-2, 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.