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 per 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 are stable but remain high at the national level, with regional disparities

• Overseas France:

  • Sharp rise in the incidence rate* in Guadeloupe and Mayotte

  • Incidence rate remains very high on Réunion Island

Variants

• 62.4% of screened tests showed a profile compatible with the Omicron variant at the start of week 52

• Omicron accounted for 15% of interpretable sequences in the Flash Survey from week 50 (December 13)

Prevention

• Vaccination as of December 28, 2021 (COVID-19 vaccine 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: completing the vaccination schedule (including the full primary vaccination series and a 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