In week 35, the decline in SARS-CoV-2 circulation continued for the third consecutive week. The downward trend in hospital and intensive care admissions was confirmed, although significant strain remained in southern mainland France and the French West Indies. Incidence rates, although high, were declining across all age groups, except among 3- to 5-year-olds (stable). They remained high among those under 18, calling for heightened vigilance as schools reopened. In France, as of September 7, 2021, 73.2% of the population had received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 68.3% were fully vaccinated. As schools and workplaces reopen, vaccination remains essential and must be combined with other preventive measures (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 these measures is necessary to consolidate the current trend in the epidemic and help preserve the hospital system.

Decrease in the incidence rate, which remains high among 20- to 39-year-olds

Nationally, with an average of 13,117 cases diagnosed per day in week 35, the incidence rate (137 per 100,000 inhabitants) has decreased (-24%) for the third consecutive week. Although declining, incidence rates remained high among those aged 20–29 (216 per 100,000, -30%), those aged 30–39 (207, -24%), and those aged 10–19 (178, -26%). Testing rates were decreasing among those aged 10–49 and remained stable or declined slightly in other age groups. The highest rates were observed among those aged 20–29 (12,555 per 100,000, -13%) and those aged 30–39 (10,040, -16%).

In mainland France, incidence rates were declining in all regions; they remained highest in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (328 per 100,000, -26%), Occitanie (160, -31%), and Île-de-France (145, -14%). Testing rates were also declining in all regions.

In the overseas territories, incidence rates remained highest in Guadeloupe (520, -52%), Martinique (419, -35%), and French Guiana (419, -8%). The incidence rate was 159 in Réunion (-14%). It rose to 53 in Mayotte (+50%), calling for particular vigilance in a specific territorial context linked to limited hospital capacity.

Incidence and Testing by School Level

In week 35, among the 274,475 people under 18 tested for SARS-CoV-2 (vs. 350,098 in week 34, a decrease of 22%), 21,227 new cases were reported (vs. 25,713 in week 34, a decrease of 17%). The incidence rate stabilized among 3- to 5-year-olds (107 per 100,000 population, as in week 34) and among 0- to 2-year-olds (67, a decrease of 3%). It decreased among 6- to 10-year-olds (169, -13%), 11- to 14-year-olds (179, -22%), and 15- to 17-year-olds (176, -28%). The screening rate increased among 0- to 2-year-olds (619 per 100,000 inhabitants, or +4%) and 3- to 5-year-olds (869, +10%). It stabilized among 6- to 10-year-olds (1,527, -2%) and was declining in the other age groups: 11- to 14-year-olds (2,542, -31%) and 15- to 17-year-olds (3,736, -30%).

• Update on: the health situation related to SARS-CoV-2 among young people ahead of the 2021 school year

Decline in hospital and critical care admissions for the second consecutive week

In hospitals, new admissions were down for the second consecutive week, with 4,248 new hospitalizations (-20%) and 1,022 new admissions to critical care (-14%). Hospital capacity remained high, with 10,707 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized as of September 7, including 2,272 in critical care units. COVID-19-related deaths (in hospitals and long-term care facilities) were also declining (681, -7%), appearing to confirm the trend from the previous week.

Vaccination coverage continues to rise among the general population and healthcare workers

On September 7, the estimated vaccination coverage in France based on Vaccin Covid was 73.2% for at least one dose and 68.3% for full vaccination. Among those aged 12 and older, 49,132,211 had received at least one dose (85.0%) and 45,848,547 (79.3%) were fully vaccinated. Vaccination coverage for at least one dose was 92.5% as of September 7 for residents in nursing homes or long-term care facilities (89.9% for full vaccination).

In the overseas territories, vaccination coverage remained particularly low in Guadeloupe (30.1% for at least one dose and 23.0% for full vaccination) and Martinique (31.0% and 24.4%).

Among healthcare professionals, vaccination coverage continued to rise: it reached 83.9% for full vaccination among professionals in nursing homes or long-term care facilities (versus 80.7% as of August 31), 91.1% among private practitioners (vs. 89.6%) and 84.1% among salaried healthcare workers in healthcare facilities (vs. 81.3%).