Nationwide, amid the implementation of the health pass, the testing rate remained stable at a very high level. Incidence rates remained highest among people aged 10–39. In France, as of August 24, 2021, 71.1% of the population had received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 62.7% were fully vaccinated. It should also be noted that vaccination coverage has increased significantly among healthcare workers in recent weeks. As the summer season comes to an end and schools and workplaces reopen, vaccinating all eligible individuals is essential and must be combined with other preventive measures, particularly adherence to protective measures, limiting high-risk contacts, and self-isolation in the event of symptoms, a confirmed infection, or contact with a confirmed case. The combination of various measures that help limit SARS-CoV-2 transmission can have a significant impact on hospitalization trends.

Decrease in the incidence rate, which remains at high levels

Nationally, the incidence rate was 216 per 100,000 inhabitants, down 12% this week. However, this represents an average of 20,740 diagnosed cases per day. In S33, the incidence rate was decreasing across all age groups, except among 0-9-year-olds, where it remained stable (129 per 100,000 inhabitants, or +1%). The highest rates were observed among those aged 20–29 (402, -18%), 30–39 (327, -13%), and 10–19 (296, -13%). Testing rates, including antigen and PCR tests (excluding self-tests), were slightly lower among those under 40 and slightly higher among those 40 and older. The highest rates were observed among those aged 20–29 (16,216/100,000, -5%) and those aged 30–39 (13,268, -1%).

In mainland France, incidence rates, although declining, remained highest in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (531/100,000, -10%), Corsica (343, -33%), and Occitanie (318, -19%). Testing rates were highest in these three regions and were decreasing or stable across all regions.

Hospital indicators continue to rise

At the hospital level, indicators continued to rise, with 6,154 new hospitalizations (+18% vs. +9% in week 32) and 1,348 new admissions to intensive care (+18% vs. +5% in week 32). The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients reached 11,127 (+8%) in week 33, including 2,234 (+14%) in critical care units. In Week 33, there were 767 hospital deaths nationwide, an increase compared to Week 32 (+76%), and 31 deaths in long-term care facilities (vs. 35 deaths in Week 32).

In the overseas territories, the situation remains very critical in Guadeloupe and Martinique

In Week 33, the incidence rate decreased across all age groups, reflecting a slowdown in viral circulation following the peak reached in Week 31 in Martinique and Week 32 in Guadeloupe. Nevertheless, it remains very high, reaching 1,885 per 100,000 (-16%) in Guadeloupe and 896 (-22%) in Martinique. In French Guiana, the already high incidence rate continued to rise this week (434, +16%).

Hospitalizations continued to rise in Week 32 (data not yet consolidated for Week 33), and admissions to intensive care continued to increase in Week 33, particularly among the 45–64 age group, followed by the 15–44 age group. A very significant excess mortality across all causes and all age groups has been observed since Week 30 in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Vaccination coverage among those aged 12 and older rose slightly in Week 33 (+2.2 percentage points compared to Week 32) but remained insufficient (as of August 24, 23.1% were fully vaccinated in Guadeloupe, 23.6% in Martinique).

The Delta variant now accounts for more than 98% of sequences in mainland France

The L452R mutation (carried notably by the Delta variant) was detected in 95.2% of positive samples screened in Week 33 (vs. 94.5% in Week 32). Sequencing data confirm that Delta has been the predominant variant in mainland France since Week 26. It accounted for 98.1% of interpretable sequences in Flash Survey #18 on August 3 (a similar trend is observed for Flash Survey #19, for which the number of interpretable sequences is still low). In the overseas territories, screening and sequencing data indicate the predominance of Delta, whose proportion continues to increase in all territories, with positive screening rates for the L452R mutation exceeding 70% in Week 33.

• Update on variant circulation with Flash Survey #17

• Learn more about the Flash surveys

Significant increase in vaccination coverage among healthcare professionals

On August 24, the estimated vaccination coverage in France based on Vaccin Covid was 71.1% for at least one dose and 62.7% for full vaccination. Among those aged 12 and older, 47,671,673 had received at least one dose (82.7%) and 42,079,049 (73.0%) were fully vaccinated. Vaccination coverage for at least one dose was 92.0% for residents in nursing homes or long-term care facilities (88.8% for full vaccination).

Among healthcare workers, vaccination coverage was increasing: vaccination coverage with at least one dose was 85.9% for professionals in nursing homes or long-term care facilities vs. 84.0% on August 17, 2021 (76.5% for full vaccination vs. 72.3%) and 92.0% for private practitioners vs. 91.0% (87.7% for full vaccination vs. 86.0%). For salaried healthcare workers in healthcare facilities, vaccination coverage with at least one dose was estimated at 85.6% on August 24 versus 83.9% on August 17 (77.6% for full vaccination versus 73.8%).