COVID-19: Epidemiological Update for May 24, 2023

Published on 24 May 2023

Key Points

In Week 20, the positivity rate (based on SI-DEP virological data) rose slightly amid very low testing rates. Visits to emergency rooms continued to decline, as did new hospitalizations.

Mainland France:
- Incidence rates* decreasing across all age groups and in most regions
- Positivity rates slightly increasing or stable in most age groups and regions
- Rate of new hospitalizations decreasing in nearly all regions
Overseas territories:
- Highest incidence* and positivity rates in Réunion
- New hospitalizations remain at a low level

Variants

The XBB.1.5 recombinant remained the dominant variant and appeared to be stabilizing, accounting for 48% of sequences in the Flash S18*** survey (vs. 47% in Flash S17)
XBB.1.9 on the decline (29% for Flash S18*** vs. 32% for Flash S17)
The CH.1.1 and BQ.1 sublineages were detected at low levels (1% and 2% for Flash S18***)

Prevention

Vaccination as of May 15, 2023 (Covid Vaccine data)****:
- 23.8% of those aged 60–79 and 26.7% of those aged 80 and older had received a booster tailored to the Omicron variant
- 19.1% of those aged 60–79 and 1.7% of those aged 80 and older had received a dose administered less than 6 and 3 months ago, respectively.
Given the current state of the epidemic and the spring vaccination campaign, it remains recommended to continue adhering to the following combined measures:
- up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, particularly through 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 and/or symptoms, to protect vulnerable individuals.

*A correction has been applied to the incidence and testing rates for the week including the May 18 holiday to account for its impact on testing activity. **S20: unconsolidated data. ***Data from the Flash S18 survey are unconsolidated and should be interpreted with caution. **** Due to a technical issue, vaccination coverage indicators have not been updated.