Key points

In week 50, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 remained at a high level with regional disparities and circulation of the Omicron variant intensified.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Increase in incidence rates in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (901/100,000) and Île-de-France (674)

  • Incidence rates stable or decreasing in other regions, but still at high levels

  • New hospital and intensive care admissions stabilising at a high level in the majority of regions

• Overseas France: continued rise in incidence in Reunion Island

Variants

• Intensified circulation of the Omicron variant, with 10.6% of screened tests showing a compatible profile in week 50, rising to 30% by the beginning of week 51

• 1,440 cases of Omicron variant infection confirmed by sequencing in France as of 23 December

Mental Health

High-level stability of mental health indicators (states of depression and anxiety, sleep problems and suicidal thoughts) in the CoviPrev survey (wave 30, 30 November-07 December 2021)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 22 December 2021 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 76.8% of the French population had received a complete primary vaccination series

  • 39.0% of the 18+ age group (79.4% of eligible people) and 68.1% of the 65+ age group (86.9% of eligible people) had received a booster shot

• Importance of combining different measures: complete vaccination series (including complete primary series and booster), adherence to contact tracing and preventive measures. Compliance with prevention measures, including reducing contacts and frequently ventilating enclosed spaces, is essential during the end-of-year festive period in the context of the circulation of the Omicron variant