Key Points

In Week 10, incidence and positivity rates were rising, but these indicators remained at low levels. Indicators of emergency department visits and new hospitalizations were on the rise again.

• Mainland France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates rising across all age groups and regions

  • Hospitalization rates rising in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Centre-Val de Loire, and Hauts-de-France at a moderate level

• Overseas territories:

  • Incidence and hospitalization rates remain at very low levels

Variants

• The XBB recombinant was predominant, accounting for 57% of sequences in the Flash 08 survey (vs. 45% for Flash S07), driven by 48% of XBB.1.5 (vs. 36%)

• BA.5 and its sublineages continued to decline (33% for Flash S08 vs. 45% for Flash S07)

• All currently described Omicron sublineages exhibit similar characteristics

Prevention

• Vaccination as of March 13, 2023 (Covid Vaccine data):

  • 23.1% of those aged 60–79 had received a booster tailored to the Omicron variant (26.7% of those eligible); these figures were 25.8% and 29.4% among those aged 80 and older, respectively;

  • 25.9% of those aged 60–79 and 11.7% of those aged 80 and older had received a dose within the past 6 and 3 months, respectively.

• Given the current circulation of respiratory viruses, it remains recommended to continue adhering to the following combined measures:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose with a bivalent vaccine (against the original strain and the Omicron variant) for those eligible who have received their primary series, as well as against the flu;

  • continued adherence to preventive measures, particularly in the event of a positive test result and/or symptoms.

Learn more

• See our report on the COVID-19 pandemic

• Go directly to the graphs and tables of indicators on InfoCovidFrance

• Visit our page on variants

• View all national epidemiological updates