Key points

In week 5, virological indicators were at a low level and continued to decline. Hospital admissions were decreasing in the majority of regions and the number of deaths continued to decline.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence and screening rates falling across all age groups and in all regions

  • Less marked decrease in the incidence rate among people aged 70+, with a stabilisation of the positivity rate in this age group

  • Hospital admission rate falling in majority of regions

  • Number of deaths in decline

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates decreasing in all regions, except in French Guiana, which showed a slight increase from a low level

  • Hospital admission rate at a very low level

Variants

• BA.5 in majority but decreasing (78% of sequences in week 3 Flash Survey); its sub-lineage BQ.1.1 represented 59% (vs 72% in week 2 Flash Survey)

• Recombinant XBB increased to 9% (vs 3% in week 2 Flash Survey), with 7% of XBB.1.5 (vs 2%)

• All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics

Prevention

• Vaccination on 6 February 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 21.8% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant (26.6% among those eligible);

  • 24.5% of 80+ year-olds had equally received this booster dose (28.1% among those eligible);

  • 27.7% of 60-79 year-olds and 19.9% 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 remain in active circulation, continued compliance with preventive measures is still 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.