Key points

In week 23, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 accelerated throughout metropolitan France, with a significant increase in virological indicators. An upward trend in hospital admissions was also observed.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Sharp increase in incidence rate* across all age groups

  • Particularly striking increase in positivity rate among 20-59 year-olds (+5 percentage points)

  • Rate of new hospital admissions rising in certain regions, particularly in Île-de-France

• Overseas France:

  • Virological indicators continue to rise and remain at very high levels in Martinique

  • Continued rise in incidence rate* in French Guiana

Variants

• Omicron BA.2 sublineages remain dominant: 72% of interpretable sequences in the Week 22 Flash Survey (May 30)

• Detection of BA.4 (3.7%) and BA.5 (24.2%) on the rise

• Increased presence of the mutation at position L452 in screening (46% in week 23 vs. 28% in week 22), linked to the increase in certain Omicron sublineages, including BA.4 and BA.5.

Prevention

• Vaccination as of June 13, 2022 (COVID-19 vaccine data):

  • Vaccination coverage for the booster shot reached 74.5% among adults over 18 years of age and 84.4% in the 65+ age group.

  • Only 29.1% of people aged 60–79 and 29.2% of those aged 80 and older eligible for the second booster shot have actually received it.

• With the accelerating spread of SARS-CoV-2, adopting a combination of measures is essential, particularly to protect the most vulnerable populations:

  • It remains important to self-isolate if you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19

  • It is crucial to step up individual precautions against infection, including wearing a mask (especially in enclosed spaces, at large gatherings, or around vulnerable people) and hand washing. During this early heat wave, enclosed spaces should only be ventilated during the cooler hours of the day.

*Rate adjusted for the effect of the public holiday (May 26, 2022).