Key points

In week 4, SARS-CoV-2 circulation stabilised at a low level nationwide. The number of hospital admissions and deaths continued to decrease.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates slightly increasing in half of regions, although at low levels; decreasing or stable in other regions

  • Stabilisation of screening rate in all regions

  • Decrease in hospital admission rate in majority of regions

  • Number of deaths in decline

  Overseas France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates falling in all regions; highest rates in Reunion Island

Variants

• BA.5 omnipresent (78% of sequences in week 3 Flash Survey); among its sub-lineages, BQ.1.1 appears to decrease (60% vs 73% in week 2 Flash Survey)

• All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics

Prevention

• Vaccination on 31 January 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 21.2% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant (26.1% among those eligible); 23.9% of 80+ year-olds had equally received this booster dose (27.6% among those eligible);

  • 28.1% of 60-79 year-olds and 20.6% of 80+ year-olds had received their latest dose of vaccine in the last 6 or 3 months, respectively.

• Given that SARS-CoV-2 and winter viruses are still in active circulation, compliance with preventive measures remains 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, and flu vaccination;

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