Key points
In week 6, virological indicators were at a low level and continued to decline. Nevertheless, indicators were stable for consultations in primary care and slightly increasing for emergency department visits. Hospital admissions and deaths continued to decrease.
- Metropolitan France:
- Incidence and positivity rates decreasing in majority of age groups and regions
- Incidence and positivity rates stable in 60+ age group
- Hospital admission rate falling in majority of regions
- Number of deaths in decline
- Overseas France:
- Incidence and positivity rates decreasing in majority of regions
- Hospital admission rate at a very low level
Variants
- BA.5 in majority but decreasing (74% of sequences in week 4 Flash Survey), with a stabilisation of sub-lineage BQ.1.1 (59% in week 4 Flash Survey vs 60% in week 3)
- Recombinant XBB increased to 14% (vs 9% in week 3 Flash Survey), with 11% of XBB.1.5 (vs 7%)
- All Omicron sub-lineages currently identified present similar characteristics
Prevention
- Vaccination on 13 February 2023 (Vaccin Covid data):
- 22.2% of 60-79 year-olds had received a booster dose adapted to the Omicron variant (26.8% among those eligible); among 80+ year-olds, 24.9% had received this booster dose (28.5% among those eligible)
- 27.4% of 60-79 year-olds and 18.8% of 80+ year-olds had received a dose of vaccine in the last 6 or 3 months, respectively
- Given that SARS-CoV-2 and winter viruses are still in active circulation, continued compliance with preventive measures remains recommended:
- up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose of bivalent vaccine (protecting against the original strain and the Omicron variant) for eligible individuals already vaccinated with a primary series, and flu vaccination;
- continued application of precautionary measures, particularly in case of a positive test and/or symptoms.
