Key Points

In Week 07, the situation is concerning due to a rise in the number of new cases, indicating increased circulation of SARS-CoV-2 at a high level, with significant strain on hospitals, amid the growing spread of more transmissible variants that are becoming predominant in mainland France.

• Resurgence in the number of new cases

• Improvement in indicators among people aged 75 and older, likely reflecting vaccination

• COVID-19-related mortality remains high

• Mainland France:

  • most affected regions: Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Hauts-de-France, and Île-de-France

  • Significant variation across departments

• Overseas territories: incidence rate remains very high in Mayotte

Variants

• Increase in the proportion of suspected variants of interest identified by screening RT-PCR:

  • suspected 20I/501Y.V1 variant: 49% (over 50% in 33 metropolitan departments)

  • suspected variant 20H/501Y.V2 or 20J/501Y.V3: 6% (over 10% in 11 metropolitan departments)

Prevention

• Vaccination:

  • 2,656,447 people who have received at least one dose of the vaccine

  • Vaccination coverage of residents in nursing homes or long-term care facilities at 80% for the first dose

• Results of the CoviPrev survey from February 15 to 17, 2021:

  • slight decrease in adherence to hygiene measures and difficulties in maintaining a 2-meter distance

  • increased intention to get vaccinated

  • further increase in reported depressive and anxious states