Key Points

In Week 21, virological indicators (based on SI-DEP data) stabilized amid very low testing rates. Emergency room visits also stabilized, and new hospitalizations continued to decline.

• Mainland France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates slightly increasing or stable in most age groups and regions

  • Rate of new hospitalizations decreasing in most regions

• Overseas territories:

  • Incidence rates are decreasing in most regions

  • New hospitalizations remain at a low level

Variants

• The XBB.1.5 recombinant remained the dominant variant but appeared to be declining, accounting for 45% of sequences in the Flash S19* survey (vs. 47% in Flash S18)

• XBB.1.16 on the rise (6% for Flash S19* vs. 3% for Flash S18)

• XBB.1.9 stabilized (28% in Flash S19* vs. 29% in Flash S18)

Prevention

• Vaccination as of May 29, 2023 (Covid Vaccine data):

  • 23.9% of those aged 60–79 and 27.0% of those aged 80 and older had received a booster tailored to the Omicron variant

• 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, including a booster dose 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.

*Data from the Flash S19 survey are preliminary and should be interpreted with caution.

Learn more

• See our report on the COVID-19 epidemic

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

• Visit our page on variants

• View all national epidemiological updates