Key Points

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has declined for the fourth consecutive week: an average of 29 cases were confirmed each day. The incidence rate fell from 153 to 70 cases per 100,000 residents, and the positivity rate dropped from 6.5% to 3.9%. This trend is observed throughout the region.

• New hospitalizations and ICU admissions also decreased last week (1 new ICU admission compared to 10 the previous week).

• Other indicators (primary care, emergency room visits, number of clusters) are also trending favorably and confirm the decline in infections. One new death was reported this week.

• As of February 9, the effective reproduction number (R_eff) for confirmed cases was estimated at 0.51 [0.44–0.57], down from last week.

• Surveillance data confirm the slowdown in infections throughout the region: the epidemic peak was reached in the first week of January. The peak in hospitalizations also appears to have passed by the end of January. Preventive measures (wearing masks, social distancing, handwashing, etc.) and testing at the slightest sign of symptoms must nevertheless be maintained at a high level among the population to prevent any early resurgence of the epidemic.

• As of February 9, 1,634 people had been vaccinated in French Guiana. Vaccination coverage for those aged 75 and older stands at 7.5% in French Guiana.

• Genomic surveillance of COVID-19 variants in French Guiana: among the 47 sequenced samples, none of the three variants of concern (VOCs)—B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (South Africa), and B.1.1.28, P.1 (Manaus)—were detected.