Key points
In week 4, SARS-CoV-2 circulation stabilised at a low level nationwide. The number of hospital admissions and deaths continued to decrease.
- Metropolitan France:
- Incidence and positivity rates slightly increasing in half of regions, although at low levels; decreasing or stable in other regions
- Stabilisation of screening rate in all regions
- Decrease in hospital admission rate in majority of regions
- Number of deaths in decline
- Incidence and positivity rates falling in all regions; highest rates in Reunion Island
Variants
- BA.5 omnipresent (78% of sequences in week 3 Flash Survey); among its sub-lineages, BQ.1.1 appears to decrease (60% vs 73% in week 2 Flash Survey)
- All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics
Prevention
- Vaccination on 31 January 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):
- 21.2% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant (26.1% among those eligible); 23.9% of 80+ year-olds had equally received this booster dose (27.6% among those eligible);
- 28.1% of 60-79 year-olds and 20.6% 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 are still in active circulation, 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.
