Key points

In week 41, the incidence rate stabilised at national level and in the majority of metropolitan regions but continued to increase among the elderly.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Stabilisation of incidence rate at a high level

  • Incidence and positivity rates still rising in 70+ age group

  • Increase in new intensive care admissions

  • Further rise in number of deaths

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence rate falling or stable at low levels in all territories

Variants

• Omicron sub-lineages: BA.5 omnipresent, accounting for 93% of sequences in the week 40 Flash Survey (3 October)

• Among the BA.5 sub-lineages, BQ.1.1 is increasing (16% vs 7% in the week 39 Flash Survey)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 17 October 2022 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 74.5% of the population aged 18+ and 82.5% of the 65+ age group had received a first booster dose

  • 31.3% of 60-79 year-olds (representing 37.0% of those who are eligible given the time since their last injection) and 38.3% of people aged 80+ (50.1% of those who are eligible) had received a second booster dose

• Given the intense circulation of SARS-CoV-2, compliance with the combined measures remains crucial:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose of bivalent vaccine (protecting against the original strain and the Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2) for individuals already vaccinated with a primary course eligible for a first or second booster;

  • self-isolation in case of a positive test for COVID-19 and/or symptoms;

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