Key points

In week 25, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 intensified throughout metropolitan France, as did new hospital admissions, particularly among the most elderly for whom vaccination coverage for the second booster shot remains insufficient.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Sharp increase in incidence rate in all regions and age groups

  • Hospital admission rate rising and particularly high in the 80+ age group

• Overseas France:

  • Virological indicators still at very high levels, although decreasing in Martinique

  • Increase in the incidence rate in Guadeloupe and French Guiana

Variants

• BA.2 gradually replaced by the now dominant BA.5 with 59% of interpretable sequences in the week 24 Flash Survey (13 June)

• Increased presence of the mutation at position L452 in screening (74% in week 25 vs 64% in week 24), connected with the increase in certain Omicron sub-lineages, including BA.5

Prevention

• Vaccination on 27 June 2022 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • Vaccination coverage for the booster shot remained stable at 74.6% in the population aged 18+ and 84.5% in the 65+ age groupOnly 25.5% of 60-79 year-olds and 31.3% of 80+ year-olds eligible for the second booster shot had received it

• With the increasing circulation of SARS-CoV-2, adopting combined measures is essential, particularly to protect the most vulnerable populations:

  • It remains important to self-isolate in the event of symptoms or a positive test for COVID-19

  • It is crucial to apply individual precautions against infection, including wearing a mask (especially in closed areas, at large gatherings, around vulnerable people and on public transport), hand washing and frequent ventilation of enclosed spaces