COVID-19: epidemiological update. Weekly report. Week 10. 15 Mars 2023.

Publié le 16 mars 2023
Mis à jour le 16 mars 2023

Key points

In week 10, incidence and positivity rates increased but remained at low levels. Indicators for emergency department visits and hospital admissions were again on the rise.

  • Metropolitan France:
    • Incidence and positivity rates rising in all age groups and in all regions
    • Hospital admission rates increasing moderately in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Centre-Val de Loire and Hauts-de-France
  • Overseas France:
    • Incidence and hospital admission rates remain very low

Variants

  • The recombinant XBB was in majority with 57% of sequences in the week 8 Flash Survey (vs 45% in week 7), carried by 48% XBB.1.5 (vs 36%)
  • BA.5 and its sub-lineages continued to decrease (33% in the week 8 Flash Survey vs 45% in week 7)
  • All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics

Prevention

  • Vaccination on 13 March 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):
    • 23.1% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant (26.7% among those eligible); in the 80+ age group, 25.8% had received this booster dose (29.4% among those eligible) 
    • 25.9% of 60-79 year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the last 6 months and 11.7% of 80+ year-olds in the last 3 months
  • Given the current situation regarding respiratory viruses in 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.