Key points

In week 20, the positivity rate (based on SI-DEP virological data) increased slightly within a context of very low screening rates. Emergency department visits continued to fall, as did new hospital admissions.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence rate fell in all age groups and in most regions

  • Positivity rate increased slightly or remained stable in most age groups and regions

  • Rate of new hospital admissions dropped in almost all regions.

• Overseas France:

  • Highest incidence and positivity rates in Reunion Island

  • New hospital admissions remained low

Variants

• The XBB.1.5 recombinant remained predominant and appeared to stabilise with 48% of sequences in the Flash Survey for week 18 (vs 47% in the week 17 Flash Survey)

• XBB.1.9 falling (29% for the week 18 Flash Survey vs 32% for the week 17 Flash Survey)

• The CH.1.1 and BQ.1 sub-lineages detected at low levels (1 and 2% in the week 18 Flash Survey)

Prevention

• Vaccination on 15 May 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):

  • 23.8% of people aged 60-79 and 26.7% of people aged 80+ had received a booster vaccination for the Omicron variant

  • 19.1% of people aged 60-79 and 1.7% of people aged 80+ had received a shot less than 6 and 3 months previously, respectively.

• Within the current context of the pandemic and the spring vaccination campaign, observance of combined measures is still recommended:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, through a booster shot with a bivalent vaccine (against the initial strain and the Omicron variant) for eligible individuals who have received a primary vaccine series;

  • continued application of protective measures, especially in the event of a positive COVID-19 test and/or symptoms, in order to protect vulnerable individuals.