Points clés

In week 17, the positivity rate (based on SI-DEP virological data) continued to decrease in a context of very low screening rates. Emergency department visits were down, as were new hospital admissions.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence rate in decline

  • Positivity rate falling in most age groups and regions

  • Hospital admission rate in decline

• Overseas France:

  • Incidence rates at very low levels, except in Reunion Island

  • New hospital admissions still very low

Variants

• The recombinant XBB.1.5 remained in majority with 52% of sequences in the week 15 Flash Survey (vs 57% in week 14)

• XBB.1.9 continued to increase (30% in the week 15 Flash Survey vs 24% in week 14)

• The BQ.1 sub-lineage was stable (4% in the Flash Surveys for weeks 14 and 15)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 2 May 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 23.7% of 60-79 year-olds and 26.5% of 80+ year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant

  • 20.8% of 60-79 year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the last 6 months and 2.4% of 80+ yearolds in the last 3 months

• In the context of the spring vaccination campaign and the active circulation of SARS-CoV-2, 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.