Key Points

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has decreased for the third consecutive week: an average of 63 cases were confirmed each day. The incidence rate has dropped from 216 to 152 cases per 100,000 residents, and the positivity rate from 8.4% to 6.5%. The testing rate has decreased slightly.

• This trend is observed throughout the country and represents a 45% decrease in the number of new cases over the past two weeks. This decrease is currently continuing.

• New hospitalizations are also declining, with intensive care admissions stabilizing last week (11 new admissions). A decrease has now begun in week 5 (current week). The impact on healthcare, in fact, occurs with a lag of several days relative to changes in confirmed cases in the community.

• Other indicators (community healthcare, emergency department visits, number of clusters) are also trending favorably. One new death occurred this week.

• As of February 2, the effective reproduction number (R_e) for confirmed cases was estimated at 0.7 [0.63–0.76], down from last week. An R_e of 0.7 corresponds to a halving of confirmed cases over the course of a week.

• As of February 4, 1,361 people had been vaccinated in French Guiana: nearly one in three vaccines (30%) was administered to a person over 75 years of age, and 127 nursing home residents were vaccinated. Nursing home residents, healthcare workers over 75, and healthcare professionals over 50 or those with comorbidities constitute the top priority group.

• Genomic surveillance of COVID-19 variants in French Guiana: This week, 71 samples were sent for sequencing, including, for the first time, samples from Saint Laurent and Maripasoula. Results were received for 16 of the 37 samples sent for sequencing on January 25: none of the three variants of concern (VOCs)—B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (South Africa), B.1.1.28, P.1 (Manaus)—were detected. Viral genome sequencing is the only technique that can confirm a variant and detect future mutations of the virus.