Key Points

In week 34, on the eve of the start of the school year, SARS-CoV-2 transmission continued to decline, accompanied by a drop in hospital admissions nationwide. However, virological indicators remained very high in Réunion.

• Mainland France:

  • Decrease in incidence rates across all regions

  • Incidence rates are falling in most age groups and rising slightly among children under 10

  • Hospital admission rates continue to decline in most regions

• Overseas territories:

  • Very high incidence rate, still rising slightly in Réunion

Variants

• Omicron sublineages: BA.5 ubiquitous, accounting for 95% of sequences in the Flash S33 survey (08/16)

Prevention

• Vaccination as of August 29, 2022 (Covid Vaccine data):

  • Vaccination coverage for the booster dose remains stable at 75.4% among those aged 18 and older and at 85.3% among those aged 65 and older

  • Second booster dose: 27.0% of those aged 60–79 (32.9% of those eligible based on the time since their last injection) and 35.1% of those aged 80 and older (46.2% of those eligible)

• As summer vacation comes to an end and the start of the school year approaches, adherence to the combined measures remains essential:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination;

  • isolation if you test positive for COVID-19 and/or have symptoms;

  • adherence to preventive measures: systematic mask-wearing in the presence of vulnerable individuals or in crowded indoor spaces (particularly on public transportation or at large gatherings…) and handwashing. During heat waves, ventilation of enclosed spaces should be limited to the coolest hours of the day.

For more information

• See our report on the COVID-19 pandemic

• Visit our page on variants

• Visit our dashboard to access all indicators (InfoCovidFrance)

• View all national epidemiological updates