Key points

In week 19, virological indicators based on SI-DEP 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 and positivity rates decreasing in most age groups and in all regions

  • Hospital admission rate in decline

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates* highest in Reunion Island

  • Hospital admissions remain low

Variants

• Recombinant XBB.1.5 dominant with a downward trend at 44% of sequences in the week 17 Flash Survey*** (vs 53% in week 16)

• XBB.1.9 on the rise (36% in the week 17 Flash Survey*** vs 32% in week 16)

• Sub-lineages CH.1.1 and BQ.1 detected at low levels (1% and 3% in the week 17 Flash Survey***)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 15 May 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 23.8% of 60-79 year-olds and 26.7% of 80+ year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant

  • 19.1% of 60-79 year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the past 6 months and 1.7% of 80+ year-oldsin the past 3 months

• In the current context of the epidemic and the spring vaccination campaign, 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.