Key points

In week 13, the positivity rate (from SI-DEP virological data), as well as indicators for use of primary care, continued to increase although less markedly than in the previous week. Emergency department visits were stable, while new hospital admissions were down.

• Metropolitan France:

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

  • Hospital admission rate decreasing in most regions

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence and hospital admission rates remain very low

Variants

• The recombinant XBB.1.5 appeared to stabilise with 59% of sequences in the Flash Surveys for weeks 10 and 11

• BA.5 and its sub-lineages continued to decrease (12% in the week 11 Flash Survey vs 17% in week 10)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 3 April 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 23.4% of 60-79 year-olds and 26.2% of 80+ year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant

  • 24.5% of 60-79 year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the last 6 months and 6.4% of 80+ year-olds in the last 3 months

• Given that SARS-CoV-2 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, to protect vulnerable individuals.