SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains at a very high level

In Week 05, 139,009 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Si-DEP database, representing a 4% decrease compared to Week 04 (144,095 new confirmed cases). The epidemic remains at a very high level amid the spread of more transmissible variants and hospital strain that has persisted for several weeks, with varying situations across regions. Hospital indicators
, which remain very high, are stabilizing: for the past two weeks regarding new hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients (11,063 in Week 05 versus 11,117 in Week 04) and after four consecutive weeks of increases for new intensive care admissions (1,767 in Week 05 versus 1,800 in Week 04, a decrease of 2%).

The weekly number of deaths, including those occurring in hospitals and long-term care facilities, rose moderately in week 04 (+2%). Thus, more than 80,000 COVID-19-related deaths were reported from March 1, 2020, to February 9, 2021.
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Île-de-France, Hauts-de-France, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions had the highest incidence and positivity rates in Week 05, as well as some of the highest hospitalization rates in mainland France.

Flash Survey #2 Results: Increased Prevalence of Emerging Variants Across All Regions

The Flash Survey #2 conducted on January 27, 2021, provides a map of variant circulation across the country. It initially involved screening positive test results to identify suspected variants, followed by sequencing to confirm the suspicion and characterize the variant.

The initial results published in the February 4 epidemiological update were from 136 clinical laboratories (LBMs). These have now been supplemented with data recorded as of February 10, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. by 234 LBMs across 15 regions of metropolitan France and the overseas territories, representing a total of 119,333 RT-PCR samples, of which 10,152 were positive (positivity rate = 8.5%).

The screening results show that among the cases diagnosed on January 27, 2021:

• 13.2% were suspected cases of the 20I/501Y.V1 (UK) variant across 87 laboratories using TFS screening (474 discordant results out of 3,601 positive RT-PCR tests);

• 17.5% suspected cases of variants 20I/501Y.V1 (UK) or 20H/501Y.V2 (ZA) or 20J/501Y.V3 (BR) variants among 136 laboratories using specific RT-PCR screening for the N501Y mutation (946 mutations among 5,412 positive RT-PCR results).

These confirm the regional heterogeneity in the spread of these variants and an increase in the proportion of suspected variants among all positive RT-PCR results across all regions for which results are interpretable.

Initial sequencing results have been reported by 28 participating laboratories (representing approximately one-third of the expected sequencing results). These will be detailed by region upon receipt of all pending sequences.

Among the 270 variants confirmed by sequencing:

• 244 were 20I/501Y.V1 (UK) variants,

• 24 were 20H/501Y.V2 (ZA) variants,

• 2 were 20J/501Y.V3 (BR) variants.

These preliminary data suggest that for every 100 20I/501Y.V1 variants identified in France on January 27, 2021, there were 10 20H/501Y.V2 variants and 1 20J/501Y.V3 variant identified at the same time.

These results do not include new cases of variants detected in the Grand Est region, which are currently under investigation. This analysis will be presented in the next weekly epidemiological update.

Vaccination: 1,990,860 people have received at least one dose

Data from Vaccin COVID allows for tracking the rollout of the vaccination campaign among priority groups: as of February 9, 1,990,860 people had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in France, representing 3.0% of the French population.

As of February 9, 2021, 421,544 residents in nursing homes (Ehpad) or long-term care facilities (USLD) and 131,753 healthcare professionals working in these facilities had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in France. It is thus estimated that 67.3% of residents in nursing homes (Ehpad) or long-term care facilities (USLD) and 28.2% of healthcare professionals working in these facilities have received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccination monitoring indicators for staff at nursing homes (Ehpad) or long-term care facilities (USLD) are now available on Géodes.