Key points
In week 51, the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 surged with strong growth in Omicron, which is now the dominant variant.
- Metropolitan France:
- Incidence rate* above 1,000/100,000 inhabitants in Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Corsica, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Largest increase in the incidence rate* among 20-29 and 30-39 year-olds
- New hospital and intensive care admissions stable but high at the national level with regional disparities
- Overseas France:
- Sharp rise in the incidence rate* in Guadeloupe and Mayotte
- Incidence rate still very high in Reunion Island
Variants
- 62.4% of screened tests showing a profile compatible with the Omicron variant at the start of week 52
- Omicron representing 15% of interpretable sequences in the Flash Survey from week 50 (13 December)
Prevention
- Vaccination on 28 December 2021 (Vaccin Covid data):
- 77,0% of the French population had received a complete primary vaccination series
- 43.7% of the 18+ age group (80.7% of eligible people) and 70.6% of the 65+ age group (87.9% of eligible people) had received a booster shot
- Importance of combining different measures: complete vaccination schedule (including complete primary vaccination and booster shot after 3 months) as well as adherence to contact tracing and recommended guidelines
- Compliance with preventive measures, including reducing contacts and frequently ventilating enclosed spaces, is essential during the end-of-year festive period given the circulation of the Omicron variant
