Key points

In week 43, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 continued to slow, with a decrease in hospital admission rates and the number of deaths.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Drop in positivity rate, which nevertheless remains high

  • Decrease in incidence and positivity rates based on antigen tests

  • Hospital admissions and number of deaths in decline

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence rate based on antigen tests stable or falling in all regions

Variants

• Omicron sub-lineages: BA.5 omnipresent, accounting for 92% of sequences in the week 42 Flash Survey (17 October)

• Among the BA.5 sub-lineages, BQ.1.1 is increasing (31% vs 20% in the week 41 Flash Survey)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 31 October 2022 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 74.5% of the population aged 18+ and 82.6% of the 65+ age group had received at least one booster dose

  • 33.2% of 60-79 year-olds (representing 39.2% of those who are eligible given the date of their last injection) and 39.9% of 80+ year-olds (52.0% of those who are eligible) had received a second booster dose

• In view of the highly active circulation of SARS-CoV-2 with the winter season approaching, compliance with the combined measures remains essential:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, particularly via a booster dose of bivalent vaccine (protecting against the original strain and the Omicron variant of Sars-CoV-2) for eligible individuals already vaccinated with a primary course;

  • self-isolation in case of a positive test for COVID-19 and/or symptoms;

  • continued application of precautionary measures, including wearing a face mask, particularly around elderly people or those at risk of complications, as well as in enclosed spaces favourable to transmission (especially public transport) or at large gatherings, frequent hand washing and ventilation of interiors.