Key Points

In Week 41, the incidence rate stabilized at the national level and in most metropolitan areas but continued to rise among older adults.

• Mainland France:

  • Incidence rate stabilizes at a high level

  • Incidence and positivity rates continue to rise among those aged 70 and older

  • Increase in new admissions to critical care

  • Number of deaths continues to rise

• Overseas Territories

  • Incidence rates are declining or stable at low levels across all territories

Variants

• Omicron sublineages: BA.5 is ubiquitous, accounting for 93% of sequences in the Flash S40 survey (10/03)

• Among BA.5 sublineages, BQ.1.1 is on the rise (16% vs. 7% in Flash S39)

Prevention

• Vaccination as of October 17, 2022 (Covid Vaccine data):

  • 74.5% of those aged 18 and older, as well as 82.5% of those aged 65 and older, have received their first booster dose

  • 31.3% of those aged 60–79 (37.0% of those eligible based on the time since their last dose) and 38.3% of those aged 80 and older (50.1% of those eligible) have received their second booster dose

• Given the high circulation of SARS-CoV-2, adherence to combined measures remains essential:

  • keeping COVID-19 vaccinations up to date, particularly by receiving a booster dose with a bivalent vaccine (against the original strain and the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2) for eligible individuals who have received their primary series, regardless of whether they have already received a booster;

  • isolation in the event of a positive COVID-19 test and/or symptoms;

  • continued adherence to preventive measures: wearing a mask, particularly in the presence of vulnerable individuals or in crowded indoor spaces (including public transportation) or during large gatherings, as well as handwashing and ventilating enclosed spaces.