Key points

In week 2, all indicators continued to improve at national level. The incidence rate dropped further, except among 0-9 year-olds where it remained stable at a low level. Hospital admissions and deaths continued to decrease.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Decline in incidence and positivity rates for all tests combined (antigen and PCR) across all regions

  • Decrease in hospital and intensive care admissions in most regions

  • Number of deaths in decline

• Overseas France:

  • Decrease in incidence and hospital admission rates in most regions

Variants

• BA.5 omnipresent (93% of sequences in week 52 Flash Survey on 26 December 2022); among its sub-lineages, BQ.1.1 appears to stabilise (71% vs 68% in week 51 Flash Survey)

• All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics

Prevention

• Vaccination on 17 January 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 19.3% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant (24.2% among those eligible); 22.2% of 80+ year-olds had equally received this booster dose (25.9% among those eligible);

  • 30.1% of 60-79 year-olds and 22.0% of 80+ year-olds are considered protected by vaccination.

• Given that SARS-CoV-2 and winter viruses remain in active circulation, continued compliance with preventive measures is necessary:

  • 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, and flu vaccination;

  • self-isolation in case of a positive test and/or symptoms;

  • continued application of precautionary measures, including wearing a face mask (particularly around vulnerable people and in enclosed spaces favourable to transmission such as public transport), hand washing and ventilation of enclosed spaces.