Key Points

In Week 3, the epidemic continued to decline, with virological and hospital indicators falling nationwide.

• Mainland France:

  • Incidence and testing rates declining across all regions

  • Rates of new hospitalizations and deaths are declining across all regions

• Overseas territories:

  • Incidence and positivity rates are rising in Réunion and stable in Guadeloupe

Variants

• BA.5 is ubiquitous (91% of sequences in the Flash S01-2023 survey); among its sublineages, BQ.1.1 appears to be stabilizing (71%: stable compared to Flash S52).

• All currently described Omicron sublineages exhibit similar characteristics.

Prevention

• Vaccination as of January 24, 2023 (Covid Vaccine data):

  • 20.3% of those aged 60–79 had received a booster tailored to the Omicron variant (25.3% of those eligible); these figures were 23.2% and 26.9%, respectively, among those aged 80 and older;

  • 28.9% of those aged 60–79 and 21.4% of those aged 80 and older had received a vaccine dose within the past 6 and 3 months, respectively.

• Given the continued circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal viruses, it is essential to maintain adherence to the following combined measures:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose with a bivalent vaccine (against the original strain and the Omicron variant) for those eligible who have received their primary series, as well as against the flu;

  • isolation in the event of a positive test and/or symptoms;

  • continued adherence to preventive measures: wearing a mask (in the presence of vulnerable individuals, in crowded indoor spaces such as public transportation), handwashing, and ventilating enclosed spaces.

Learn more

• See our report on the COVID-19 pandemic

• Go directly to the graphs and tables of indicators on InfoCovidFrance

• Visit our page on variants

• View all national epidemiological updates