Key points

In week 12, incidence and positivity rates (from SI-DEP virological data), as well as indicators for use of primary care and emergency services, continued to increase but less markedly than in the previous week. New hospital admissions were down in most regions.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates rising in most age groups and regions

  • Hospital admission rate decreasing or stable in the majority of regions

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence and hospital admission rates remain very low

Variants

• The recombinant XBB.1.5 was in majority with 59% of sequences in the week 10 Flash Survey (vs 55% in week 9)

• BA.5 and its sub-lineages continued to decrease (17% in the week 10 Flash Survey vs 21% in week 9)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 27 March 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 23.3% of 60-79 year-olds and 26.0% of 80+ year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant

  • 25.0% of 60-79 year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the last 6 months and 7.1% of 80+ year-olds in the last 3 months

• Given that SARS-CoV-2 currently remains in active circulation, continued compliance with preventive measures is 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;

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