Key Points

Since early March, 10,950 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in French Guiana.

Last week, an average of 22 cases were confirmed each day, and the weekly incidence stands at 54 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while the weekly testing rate is 622 tests per 100,000 inhabitants. As of November 17, the effective reproduction number (R_eff) is estimated at 1.15 [0.98–1.33].
New hospitalizations in French Guiana are limited and stable compared to week 45. No admissions to intensive care and no deaths were recorded in week 46. Early
indicators of healthcare utilization remain stable at a low level: emergency department visits for suspected COVID-19 account for 1% of all visits to the region’s emergency departments. Acute respiratory infections seen in private practice have increased for two consecutive weeks, though several respiratory viruses may contribute to this. Confirmed
cases of COVID-19 infections are therefore on the rise again in French Guiana this week, particularly on the island of Cayenne and in Kourou, with a 30% increase over two weeks. The positivity rate has risen to 8.7%. Five new clusters were reported in various workplaces and schools last week.
An ongoing study also indicates that imported cases account for approximately 15% of cases in recent weeks, compared to 85% of infections acquired in French Guiana within family, social, or professional settings.
It remains strongly recommended that travelers arriving in French Guiana get tested after arrival, 7 days after the test required to enter French Guiana, and limit their contacts as much as possible during the week following arrival, even if they tested negative before boarding.