Incidence and positivity rates on the rise among people aged 20 and older

In Week 07 (February 13–19, 2023), virological indicators remained at a low level, with a slight increase in incidence rates (36 per 100,000 population, +10%) and positivity rates (6.1%, +0.9 percentage points) at the national level among adults, against a backdrop of a decrease in the testing rate¹. These indicators continued to decline among those under 20, but increased among those aged 20 and older, with levels remaining low. The testing rate decreased among those under 20, while it stabilized or decreased slightly among those aged 20 and older.

Hospital indicators and deaths continue to decline

In week 07, new hospitalizations continued to decline in most regions (1,308, -10%), and deaths were decreasing or stable depending on the region (unconsolidated data). Visits to emergency rooms for suspected COVID-19 across all age groups were on the rise (925, +23%); patterns of care-seeking may be changing during this school break.

Variants: The BA.5 sublineage remains dominant and is declining

Since the emergence of Omicron in late 2021, significant and rapid genetic diversification has been observed within this variant and its successive sublineages. However, all Omicron sublineages described to date retain very similar characteristics and are therefore all included within it. In mainland France, BA.5 (all sublineages combined) remained the dominant variant but continued to decline, accounting for 64% of interpretable sequences in the Flash S05 survey of January 30, 2023 (vs. 74% for Flash S04). Among the BA.5 sublineages, the detection of BQ.1.1 (including its sublineages) appeared to be stabilizing, accounting for 59% of interpretable sequences in Flash S05-2023 (vs. 60% for Flash S04). At the same time, a stabilization was observed in the BA.2 sublineages (11% for Flash S04 and 9% for Flash S05-2023) and an increase in the XBB recombinant (from 14% for Flash S04 to 26% for Flash S05-2023). Among the sublineages of the XBB recombinant, XBB.1.5 increased the most rapidly, from 11% in Flash S04 to 20% in Flash S05-2023. More information is available in the risk analysis related to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants dated February 15, 2023.

Combined measures offer the best protection
As of February 20, 2023, 22.5% of those aged 60–79 and 25.2% of those aged 80 and older had received a booster tailored to the Omicron variant (26.8% and 28.8%, respectively, among those eligible². Furthermore, 27.1% of those aged 60–79 had received a dose within the past 6 months³ and 17.5% of those aged 80 and older had received a dose within the past 3 months⁴.

Against this backdrop of slow progress, COVID-19 vaccination—particularly a booster dose with a bivalent vaccine (against the original strain and the Omicron variant) for eligible individuals who have received their primary series (starting 3 or 6 months after the last dose, depending on current recommendations)—remains recommended.

As SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal viruses are circulating simultaneously in the country, it is strongly recommended that individuals at risk of developing severe influenza get vaccinated against seasonal influenza (campaign extended through February 28, 2023). Influenza and
COVID-19 vaccinations can be administered on the same day.

Adherence to preventive measures and other recommended precautions remains necessary, particularly in the event of symptoms or a positive test result, as well as to protect vulnerable individuals.

Santé publique France is also publishing updated data on healthcare workers in healthcare facilities (PES).

For more information on COVID-19, surveillance systems, and vaccination, visit the Santé Publique France resource page and the Vaccination Info Service website. For more information on regional data, consult the regional epidemiological reports. Find all data freely available on Géodes.