Key points
In week 7, virological indicators remained low but were increasing slowly. Indicators were increasing for emergency department visits. Hospital admissions and deaths continued to decrease.
- Metropolitan France:
- Incidence and positivity rates on the rise among people aged 20 and over
- Incidence and positivity rates rising or stable in most regions
- Hospital admission rates falling in most regions
- Number of deaths stable depending on the region
- Overseas France:
- Incidence and positivity rates down or stable in most regions
- Hospital admission rates down to a very low level
Variants
- BA.5 in majority but continuing to decrease (64% of sequences in week 5 Flash Survey), with a stabilisation of sub-lineage BQ.1.1 (59% in week 5 Flash Survey vs 60% in week 4)
- Recombinant XBB increased to 26% (vs 14% in week 4 Flash Survey), with 20% of XBB.1.5 (vs 11%)
- All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics
Prevention
- Vaccination on 20 February 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):
- 22.5% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose for the Omicron variant (26.8% amog those eligible); this proportion was 25.2% and 28.8% respectively in the 80 and over age group;
- 27.1% of 60-79 year-olds and 17.5% of 80+ year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the last 6 or 3 months, respectively
- Given that SARS-CoV-2 and winter viruses are still in active 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.
New day of publication for the COVID-19 Epidemiological Update
Given the positive evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic (low virological indicators and near-exclusive circulation of the Omicron variant for the past year), with recommendations now similar to those for other acute respiratory infections, Santé publique France is adapting its surveillance of the COVID-19 epidemic in France, particularly in terms of the information produced and distributed. From next week, the Epidemiological Update presenting the situation of COVID-19 in France will therefore be published every Thursday (instead of Friday at present).
Surveillance of COVID-19 variants will continue throughout the country.
This development is part of a process to standardise COVID-19 surveillance for gradual integration into routine epidemic monitoring. This integrated surveillance strategy for acute respiratory infections takes a global approach to acute respiratory diseases, primarily COVID-19, influenza and bronchiolitis. It will be fully deployed at the beginning of the 2023-2024 season and specific details will be provided prior to implementation.
