The peak in hospitalizations has passed, but the death toll remains high

In week 48, the decline in the number of new infections and hospitalizations continued. The number of new cases confirmed by RT-PCR and antigen tests fell by 34% (75,096 new cases in week 48 versus 114,104 in week 47). The peak in hospitalizations was passed in week 45. This decline has been confirmed for the third consecutive week: a 31% decrease in new hospitalizations (9,382 in week 48 versus 13,585 in week 47) and a 33% decrease in ICU admissions (1,391 in week 48 versus 2,069 in week 47).

COVID-19-related mortality remains very high, with 2,928 new deaths recorded in week 48 and varying trends across regions. The 25% decrease currently observed, compared to week 47 when the number of new deaths was 3,889, remains to be confirmed in the coming weeks due to the longer consolidation period for mortality data and the later occurrence of death in the course of the disease.

Adoption of preventive measures can still improve

Even today, the adoption by everyone of individual preventive measures in private settings, combined with collective measures, remains the only way to limit the spread of the virus and contain the epidemic. Wave 18 of the CoviPrev survey, conducted between November 23 and 25, shows that the consistent adoption of all measures related to limiting social interaction remains stable compared to Wave 17 (November 4–6), except for “avoiding festive gatherings,” which increased by 2 percentage points compared to the previous wave. Maintaining preventive measures is all the more necessary in the context of easing lockdown restrictions and the approach of the holiday season.

Healthcare professionals ready to recommend vaccination to their patients

In the survey “Healthcare Professionals, Prevention, and COVID-19”¹ conducted by Santé publique France, 68% of private-practice healthcare professionals stated they wanted to get vaccinated against the virus, with significant differences between professions: 80% of general practitioners and pharmacists wanted to be vaccinated, compared to 55% of the nurses surveyed. However, a larger number of them (88%) would advise their patients to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The support of healthcare professionals is essential as the prospect of vaccination draws nearer and as the French appeared in November to be more reluctant to get vaccinated than in July, according to the CoviPrev survey (53% of respondents said they would definitely or probably get vaccinated against COVID-19, compared to 64% who said they intended to do so in July).