Key points

In week 3, the epidemic continued to decline, with virological and hospital indicators falling at national level.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Decline in incidence and screening rates across all regions

  • Decrease in hospital admission rates and deaths across all regions

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates rising in Reunion Island and stable in Guadeloupe

Variants

• BA.5 omnipresent (91% of sequences in week 1-2023 Flash Survey); among its sub-lineages, BQ.1.1 appears to stabilise (71%: stable compared to week 52-2022 Flash Survey)

• All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics

Prevention

• Vaccination on 24 January 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 20.3% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant (25.3% among those eligible); 23.2% of 80+ year-olds had equally received this booster dose (26.9% among those eligible);

  • 28.9% of 60-79 year-olds and 21.4% of 80+ year-olds had received their latest vaccine dose in the last 6 or 3 months, respectively

• 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.