Summary

Epidemiological Situation in French Guiana as of June 11, 2020, at 8:00 a.m.

Since early March, 917 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in French Guiana, 25% of which developed clinical symptoms within the last 7 days.

All surveillance data point to an increase in viral circulation throughout French Guiana. Consultations for suspected acute respiratory infections in general practice clinics (Sentinel Physicians Network) quadrupled last week, and the detection of the first positive COVID-19 test results among these consultations confirms that this increase can be attributed to COVID-19.

At the same time, visits to emergency rooms for suspected Covid-19 are on the rise, and of the 11 people admitted to intensive care since early March, half were admitted since early June. The number of admissions to general hospital wards has also increased significantly since early June.

In total, 13 clusters are considered active in French Guiana, including 9 in the municipalities of Cayenne, Rémire-Montjoly, Matoury, Montsinery Tonnegrande, Kourou, and Macouria; one of these has progressed to “community spread,” which is consistent with the increase in viral circulation.

In the west, few clusters have been detected, but for the majority of cases, no source of infection could be identified through investigations, suggesting that community transmission is already underway, especially since the 7-day rolling incidence has doubled in Saint-Laurent du Maroni over the past week.

Surveillance data therefore confirm an intensification of viral circulation in French Guiana and the onset of the epidemic, requiring heightened vigilance from the entire population to further strengthen preventive measures and limit the spread of the virus as much as possible.