Key points

In week 9, the incidence rate stabilised and the positivity rate increased slightly again, with both indicators remaining at low levels. Indicators for emergency department visits were increasing, while new hospital admissions were decreasing.

• Metropolitan France:

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

  • hospital admission rate decreasing in most regions

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates down slightly in Reunion Island

  • Hospital admission rate at a low level and decreasing in Reunion Island

Variants

• BA.5 decreased further (48% of sequences in the Flash Survey for week 7 vs 56% for week 6), as did its sub-lineage BQ.1.1 (40% in the Flash Survey for week 7 vs 43% for week 6)

• Increase of recombinant XBB to 41% (vs 34% in the Flash Survey for week 6), with 32% of XBB.1.5 (vs 26%)

• All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics

Prevention

• Given the respiratory viruses currently in circulation, continued compliance with preventive measures remains recommended:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose of bivalent vaccine (protecting against the original strain and the Omicron variant) for eligible individuals already vaccinated with a primary series, and flu vaccination;

  • continued application of precautionary measures, particularly in case of a positive test and/or symptoms.