Key Points

In Week 12, incidence and positivity rates (based on SI-DEP virological data) as well as indicators of outpatient and emergency department visits continued to rise, but at a slower pace than the previous week. New hospitalizations were on the decline.

• Mainland France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates rising in most age groups and regions

  • Hospitalization rates decreasing or stable in most regions

• Overseas territories:

  • Incidence and hospitalization rates remain at very low levels

Variants

• The XBB.1.5 recombinant was the dominant variant, accounting for 59% of sequences in the Flash 10 survey (vs. 55% in Flash S09)

• BA.5 and its sublineages continued to decline (17% for Flash S10 vs. 21% for Flash S09)

Prevention

• Vaccination as of March 27, 2023 (Covid Vaccine data):

  • 23.3% of those aged 60–79 and 26.0% of those aged 80 and older had received a booster tailored to the Omicron variant

  • 25.0% of those aged 60–79 and 7.1% of those aged 80 and older had received a dose administered less than 6 and 3 months ago, respectively.

• Given the current situation of ongoing SARS-CoV-2 circulation, 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;

  • 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