In week 14 (April 4–10, 2022), SARS-CoV-2 continued to circulate widely throughout the country. Incidence and positivity rates rose most sharply among those aged 60–79. Conversely, both indicators declined among those aged 10–19 for the second consecutive week. The number of new hospital admissions remained high, and while a stabilizing trend was observed in week 14, this will need to be confirmed once the data is consolidated, given the increases seen in previous weeks. In the overseas territories, the incidence rate remained very high and was rising in Réunion. As of April 11, 83.4% of those aged 65 and older had received a booster shot, and only 9.2% of those aged 80 and older had received a second booster dose. Given the current high circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses, as well as their impact on the healthcare system and hospitals, adherence to preventive measures (wearing masks in enclosed spaces or at large gatherings, handwashing, and ventilating enclosed spaces) is essential, particularly to protect vulnerable individuals. Vaccination efforts, including the second booster dose, must also continue among eligible populations. Similarly, adherence to other recommended measures remains necessary in the event of symptoms, a positive test result, or exposure to a high-risk contact.

The incidence rate is rising among those aged 60–79

Nationally, the incidence rate has stabilized at 1,406 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Week 14 (-2% vs. Week 13), which still represents an average of nearly 135,000 new cases per day. However, this rate continued to rise slightly among those aged 50 and older, particularly among those aged 60–69 (+7%) and 70–79 (+6%). While it fell sharply among those aged 10–19 (-19%), it remained stable or declined slightly in other age groups. Furthermore, it remained above 1,000 per 100,000 in all age groups except for those under 10 (834 per 100,000). The 30–39 age group (1,690, -1%) and the 40–49 age group (1,721, -4%) continued to have the highest rates.
The testing rate decreased slightly in week 14 (4,385 per 100,000 inhabitants, -5%). The sharpest decline was observed among 10- to 19-year-olds (-13%), where the positivity rate fell for the second consecutive week (-2.3 percentage points), another indicator suggesting a decrease in SARS-CoV-2 circulation in this age group. The positivity rate was stable or rising in other age groups, with the sharpest increases observed among those aged 60–69 (+3.1 percentage points) and 70–79 (+3.0 percentage points). Nationally, the positivity rate continued to rise, reaching 32.1% (+1.0 percentage points).

In mainland France, the incidence rate was stable or slightly decreasing in most regions. It continued to rise in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (+10%) and, to a lesser extent, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (+5%). All regions maintained an incidence rate above 1,000 per 100,000, with the highest rates observed in Corsica (1,795, -9%), Normandy (1,682, -4%), and Brittany (1,638, -8%). In the overseas territories, the incidence rate was highest and still rising in Réunion (1,653, +9%). It declined again in Guadeloupe (-14%) and Martinique (-22%).

The number of new hospitalizations remains high

Nationally, the number of new hospitalizations (9,522, -3%) and new admissions to critical care (833, -7%) remained high. These trends can be interpreted next week after data consolidation, given that the trends were still rising sharply in week 13 (+17% and +25% respectively, consolidated data). The number of deaths in hospitals and long-term care facilities was 724 (-4%, unconsolidated data).

In mainland France, rates of new hospitalizations were highest in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and Brittany. They were rising in Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. In the overseas territories, the rate of new hospitalizations remained the highest and stable in Réunion.

72 sequences of the XD variant detected

Sequencing data confirm the dominance of Omicron in France. In mainland France, it accounted for more than 99.9% of interpretable sequences in the Flash S13 survey (March 28, based on 2,349 interpretable sequences). In the French overseas departments and regions (DROM), Omicron is the only variant detected since Flash S06-2022 (February 7, out of a total of 868 interpretable sequences between Flash S06 and Flash S13 across all DROMs). These data highlight the near-disappearance of Delta and its replacement by Omicron.

The XD recombinant has been classified as a variant under monitoring (VUM) since the variant risk analysis of 03/23/2022, due to its genetic characteristics derived from the parent variants of concern (VOCs) (Delta AY.4 and Omicron BA.1). As of April 11, 72 sequences had been detected in France. The XD variant accounts for less than 0.1% of interpretable sequences from the Flash S01 (January 3) to Flash S12 (March 21) surveys, and was not detected during the Flash S13 survey.

Nearly 10% of those aged 80 and older have received a second booster dose

As of April 11, 2022, the estimated vaccination coverage in the population was 79.5% for a complete primary vaccination series and 58.8% for the booster dose.

Vaccination coverage for the booster dose was 73.5% among those aged 18 and older and 83.4% among those aged 65 and older. Additionally, 9.5% of children aged 10 to 11 had received a first dose of the vaccine (3.2% for those aged 5 to 9). Vaccination coverage for the second booster dose was 9.2% among those aged 80 and older.

Vaccination coverage data by department are published on Géodes, and data regarding the second booster dose have also been published there since April 7, 2022.

In addition, Santé publique France publishes:

• “Le Point sur” regarding the epidemiological situation related to COVID-19 among those aged 0–17

• “Le Point sur” regarding reports of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections