Key Points

In Week 28, there was a very sharp increase in SARS-CoV-2 transmission in France, accompanied by a rise in hospitalization rates and admissions to intensive care units amid increased attendance at gatherings.

• Incidence rate increased by more than 100% in all age groups except those aged 70 and older

• Increase in hospitalizations and critical care admissions after 15 weeks of decline

• Mainland France:

  • Increase in SARS-CoV-2 circulation across all regions, most pronounced in Corsica, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine

  • Marked increase in hospital indicators in Occitanie

• Overseas territories: Worsening of the epidemiological situation in Martinique and viral circulation remaining high in French Guiana and Réunion

Variants

• 81% of cases identified as the Delta variant through sequencing in metropolitan France

Contact tracing

• Decrease in the proportion of new cases previously identified as high-risk contacts, indicating fewer transmission chains are being identified

• Sharp increase in the number of cases reporting having visited a gathering place

Prevention

• Vaccination coverage:

  • In the general population as of July 20: 56.3% for one dose and 45.9% for full vaccination

  • Vaccination survey in long-term care facilities: 88% of residents and only 59% of healthcare professionals working in nursing homes have received a full vaccination

• Importance of combined measures for prevention:

  • Vaccination of the entire eligible population

  • Adherence to contact tracing protocols and preventive measures even after vaccination

  • If symptoms develop, immediate isolation is required, and a test must be performed as soon as possible

Learn more

• See our report on the COVID-19 pandemic

• Visit our page on variants

• Visit our page on contact tracing