Key points

In week 6, virological indicators were at a low level and continued to decline. Nevertheless, indicators were stable for consultations in primary care and slightly increasing for emergency department visits. Hospital admissions and deaths continued to decrease.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates decreasing in majority of age groups and regions

  • Incidence and positivity rates stable in 60+ age group

  • Hospital admission rate falling in majority of regions

  • Number of deaths in decline

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates decreasing in majority of regions

  • Hospital admission rate at a very low level

Variants

• BA.5 in majority but decreasing (74% of sequences in week 4 Flash Survey), with a stabilisation of sub-lineage BQ.1.1 (59% in week 4 Flash Survey vs 60% in week 3)

• Recombinant XBB increased to 14% (vs 9% in week 3 Flash Survey), with 11% of XBB.1.5 (vs 7%)

• All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics

Prevention

• Vaccination on 13 February 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 22.2% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant (26.8% among those eligible); among 80+ year-olds, 24.9% had received this booster dose (28.5% among those eligible)

  • 27.4% of 60-79 year-olds and 18.8% of 80+ year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the last 6 or 3 months, respectively

• Given that SARS-CoV-2 and winter viruses are still in active circulation, continued 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.