Key points

In week 12, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 intensified throughout the area, with a rise in new hospital admissions.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence rate up in all age groups for the third consecutive week

  • Incidence rate >1,000/100,000 in all regions

  • Positivity rate remains very high and increasing

  • Admission to intensive care is up slightly

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence rate high and rising in Reunion Island (>1,000)

  • Incidence rate high but dropping in Martinique (>1,000)

• Repeat infections: 5.4% of all confirmed cases in week 11

Variants

• Omicron accounted for over 99.9% of interpretable sequences in the Flash Survey of 14 March for week 11

• BA.2 sub-lineage in majority (84% in week 11)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 28 March 2022 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 79.5% of the French population had completed a primary vaccination series

  • 73.2% of the 18+ age group and 83.2% of the 65+ age group had received a booster shot

  • Need for a complete vaccination series with the booster, including a second booster for those eligible, namely those aged 80 and over, residents of a nursing homes and long-term care facilities and immuno-compromised individuals

• With significant growth in circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza:

  • Importance of maintaining individual precautionary measures, including wearing a mask, especially in closed areas or in the presence of vulnerable people, washing hands and frequent ventilation of enclosed spaces