In week 20 (May 17–23, 2021), epidemiological indicators continued to improve. While new hospital and intensive care admissions continued to decline, pressure on hospitals remained high, particularly in intensive care units. Vaccination coverage continues to increase, with 16.2% of the population fully vaccinated and 35.4% having received a first dose as of May 26, 2021. However, particular attention must be paid to the dynamics of variants of concern, which could be associated with a risk of vaccine escape or increased transmissibility. In this context, with the gradual lifting of certain restrictions, adherence to individual preventive measures, contact tracing, and vaccination remain essential to controlling the epidemic.

A 20% decrease in the incidence rate

Nationally, 83,125 new cases were confirmed in week 20, representing an average of nearly 12,000 cases per day. In week 20, the incidence rate was decreasing (124 per 100,000 inhabitants vs. 154 in week 19, a rate adjusted for the effect of holidays, representing a 20% decrease), a decrease observed across all age groups. The testing rate was decreasing (3,511 per 100,000 inhabitants, a 7% decrease compared to the adjusted rate for Week 19), as was the positivity rate (3.5%, a 0.6-point decrease compared to Week 19).

Too many people hospitalized despite the confirmed decline in hospitalizations

The decline in the number of new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients and new admissions to critical care units, observed since Week 16, continued in Week 20. However, the impact of this reduction in new admissions on the number of people currently hospitalized remains limited: on May 25, 19,491 people were still hospitalized, including 3,462 patients in critical care.

Variants under surveillance, particularly the Indian variant

The results of Flash Survey #8 from April 27, 2021, and the preliminary results of Flash Survey #9 from May 11, 2021, confirm the predominance of the variant of concern 20I/501Y.V1 (known as the “English” variant). It accounted for 86.4% of interpretable results in Flash Survey #8 and 89.4% of interpretable results in Flash Survey #9. The 20H/501Y.V2 variant accounted for 7.8% of interpretable results in Flash Survey #8 and 5.7% in Flash Survey #9. The 20J/501Y.V3 variant remains very rare.

Other variants of concern are being monitored. The B.1.617 lineage (known as the Indian variant) was first detected in India in late 2020. Data from investigations in the United Kingdom show high transmissibility of the B.1.617.2 variant, as high as or even higher than that of the 20I/501Y.V1 variant. Vaccine efficacy may be slightly reduced according to initial studies conducted in the United Kingdom (efficacy varies depending on the vaccine and the number of doses). In France, as of May 25, 46 clusters involving at least one case of the B.1.617 lineage variant had been reported. Isolation and contact tracing measures were implemented for each cluster and limited the risk of spread. However, the increase in clusters—some of which are identified late because they are not linked to travelers returning from India or neighboring countries—increases the risk of local transmission of this variant.

The VOC 20I/484K, first identified in the United Kingdom following the acquisition of the E484K mutation by the VOC 20I/501Y.V1, was rarely detected in France until mid-March. As of May 24, 51 cases had been identified, including 31 cases confirmed by screening or sequencing, and 20 cases with a positive RT-PCR test and an epidemiological link to a confirmed case.

Overall, the proportion of variants carrying the E484K mutation continues to rise in Flash surveys, a trend being closely monitored given the potential for vaccine escape among variants carrying this mutation.

Learn more:

• on Flash surveys#

• on the circulation of variants in France

3.4 million vaccine doses administered

In one week (May 19–25, 2021), more than 2.6 million people received their first vaccine dose, an average of 374,000 people per day. During this week, 3.4 million doses were administered (as first or second doses), an average of 488,000 doses per day.

COVID-19 vaccination is progressing, and as of May 25, 2021:

• 23,752,184 people had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 10,883,436 had completed the full vaccination series, representing 35.4% and 16.2% of the population, respectively.

• The estimated vaccination coverage among the adult population (aged 18 and older) was 45.1% for at least one dose and 20.7% for full vaccination.

• For people aged 75–79, vaccination coverage for at least one dose was 85.4% (fully vaccinated: 69.6%) and 75.4% for those aged 80 and older (fully vaccinated: 61.7%).

During this period of declining viral circulation, accelerated vaccination, and the lifting of restrictions, it remains essential to maintain a high level of adherence to individual prevention measures, testing, and the isolation of cases and at-risk contacts. Contact tracing remains essential to controlling the epidemic. It is also important to encourage vaccination among priority groups who have not yet been vaccinated.