Key Points

Key indicators:

• 81,682 people tested, 12,440 confirmed cases

• 953 hospitalizations

• 148 ICU admissions, 30% of which occurred in 2021

• 73 deaths

Against the backdrop of the likely circulation of the 501Y.V2 variant (119 cases identified in the territory), Mayotte has been facing a new wave of the COVID-19 epidemic since the beginning of 2021.

The approximately 80% increase in the number of new cases over one week (between S4 and S5) reflects the acceleration of the epidemic. On February 11, the effective reproduction number (Reff) was estimated at 1.53 (1.46–1.59) based on SIDEP data and at 1.67 (1.39–1.98) based on SIVIC data. These estimates indicate intense viral transmission within the population over the past few weeks.

Although a curfew was implemented in S3, epidemiological indicators do not suggest a decline in the epidemic. The number of new cases and the incidence rate have tripled since S3.

At this stage, it is too early to assess the effect of localized lockdowns in the municipalities of Dzaoudzi, Pamandzi, and Bouéni. For example, the incidence rate in the municipality of Pamandzi doubled between S3 and S5. Similarly, the effects of the widespread lockdown will need to be assessed after it has ended.