COVID-19 Surveillance Since July 1, 2023

Since the emergence of COVID-19 more than three years ago, Santé publique France’s epidemiological surveillance has relied on a multi-source system that has enabled the rapid generation of numerous indicators for monitoring the epidemic. Since July 1, 2023, several information systems have been undergoing changes. These changes are taking place against the backdrop of a favorable epidemiological situation, marked by very low viral circulation in mainland France and the overseas territories.

Changes to Information Systems

Law No. 2022-1089 of July 30, 2022, ending the emergency measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, provides for the cessation of processing personal data from the screening information system (SI-DEP) based on RT-PCR and antigen test results. Indicators derived from this source (daily case counts, testing rates, positivity rates, effective R) will no longer be produced. The historical data for these indicators will remain accessible via Géodes and data.gouv.fr. Specific data entry guidelines for the Victim Information System (SI-VIC), used for hospital monitoring of patients with COVID-19, will be lifted as of Friday, June 30. Consequently, hospital indicators derived from this source will no longer be available.

Adaptive Surveillance

To follow up on SI-DEP and pending the Laboé-SI system, which will ensure the continuity of virological surveillance and also integrate other diseases, a transitional system has been put in place. This system is called Néo-SIDEP and has been in effect since the publication on August 1, 2023, of the decree below, which also classifies COVID-19 as a notifiable disease. It relies solely on the reporting of PCR tests by public and private laboratories.

Monitoring of the epidemic is therefore maintained and forms part of a comprehensive surveillance system for Acute Respiratory Infections. It relies on a multi-source system, which includes:

  • SurSaUD® syndromic surveillance, consisting of indicators of use of SOS Médecins for outpatient care, hospital emergency departments (OSCOUR® network), and mortality (all-cause deaths from INSEE and derived from CepiDC electronic certification)

  • Genomic surveillance conducted by the Emergen consortium through weekly Flash surveys, which enables the rapid identification of emerging variants that may have an impact on public health

  • PCR test data reported by public and private laboratories via Neo SI-DEP

Indicators derived from these surveillance efforts will be published weekly for SurSaUD bulletins and monthly for variant risk analyses on the Santé publique France website:

These indicators make it possible to assess changes in the epidemiological situation

Ultimately, these developments are part of an effort to standardize COVID-19 surveillance and gradually integrate it into the routine monitoring of respiratory epidemics. This integrated surveillance strategy for acute respiratory infections offers a comprehensive approach to acute respiratory diseases, the main ones being COVID-19, influenza, and bronchiolitis. It will be fully implemented by the start of the 2023–2024 season, and specific information will be provided prior to its implementation.