In week 19 (May 9–15, 2022), all epidemiological indicators continued to improve, with a decline in incidence and positivity rates across all age groups and metropolitan regions. In hospitals, the number of admissions continued to decline, as did the number of admissions to critical care units. In the overseas territories, trends in indicators were more mixed, notably with a significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 circulation in Martinique, where the incidence rate stood at 1,367 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. As of May 16, only 34.8% of eligible individuals aged 60–79 and 25.5% of eligible individuals aged 80 and older had received their second booster dose. Given that SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are circulating at declining but still present levels, continued adherence to preventive measures remains necessary to further improve the epidemic situation. Furthermore, vaccination efforts must continue, particularly in areas currently affected by a resurgence of COVID-19, as well as for the second booster dose among eligible individuals, including the elderly
and those with compromised immune systems. Adherence to other recommended measures also remains necessary in the event of symptoms, a positive test result, or exposure to a high-risk contact.

Continued Decline in Incidence, Testing, and Positivity Rates

Nationally, the incidence rate continued to decline in week 19, falling to 332 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (-18% compared to week 18), as did testing rates (1,901, -5%) and positivity rates, with the latter falling below 20% (17.5%, -2.7 percentage points). These declines were observed across all age groups, with the exception of the testing rate, which increased by 11% among 0- to 9-year-olds and remained stable among 10- to 19-year-olds, likely due to the start of the school year in Zone C. Data by age group corresponding to school levels also
showed that the incidence rate remained stable only among 6- to 14-year-olds. The incidence rate was highest among 30- to 39-year-olds (400, -17%) and 70- to 79-year-olds (387, -23%).

In mainland France, incidence and positivity rates were declining in all regions. Incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants ranged from 398 in Brittany to 232 in Île-de-France. Testing rates were decreasing in all regions except Île-de-France (2,142, +3%), where they were among the highest along with Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (2,365, -7%). In the overseas territories, the incidence rate continued to rise sharply in Martinique, reaching a very high level (1,367, +45%), with no impact on hospital indicators at this time. The incidence rate remained stable at a high level in Guadeloupe, as it has for several weeks (736, +7%). The situation improved for the third consecutive week in Réunion (663, -31%).

New hospitalizations and critical care admissions continue to decline

Nationally, the number of new hospitalizations and admissions to critical care continued to decline (4,074, -25%, and 442, -24%, respectively). The number of deaths in hospitals and long-term care facilities stood at 513 (-18%, unconsolidated data). The moderate excess mortality from all causes observed between weeks 12 and 17 appeared to return to within the usual range of fluctuation in week 18.

In mainland France, the rate of new hospitalizations decreased and fell below the threshold of 10 per 100,000 inhabitants in all regions. Rates of new admissions to intensive care were stable in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Centre-Val de Loire, and were decreasing in the other regions. In the overseas territories, the rate of new hospitalizations remained the highest but was decreasing in Réunion.

The Omicron BA.2 sublineage remains predominant

Sequencing data confirm the ubiquity of Omicron in France. In mainland France, it accounted for 100% of interpretable sequences from the Flash S17 (04/25) and Flash S18 (05/02) surveys. In the overseas departments and regions (DROM), Omicron has been the only variant detected since Flash S06 (02/07).

The BA.2 sublineage is predominant in France, accounting for 98.7% of the 1,764 interpretable sequences from the Flash S18 survey (May 2). The Omicron sublineages BA.4 and BA.5 are subject to enhanced surveillance and have been detected in France since Flash S13 (March 28) for BA.5 and Flash S16 (April 19) for BA.4. The detection of BA.4 and BA.5 during Flash surveys remains low but is slightly increasing: 0.3% for BA.4 and 0.5% for BA.5 during Flash S18, compared to 0.1% for BA.4 and 0.3% for BA.5 during Flash S17. C1 screening results show that the detection
rate of the L452R mutation, which was predominantly found in Delta, continues to rise, increasing from 0.8% in week 18 to 1.8% in week 19. This mutation is found in the Omicron sublineages BA.4 and BA.5, but also in other sublineages of BA.1 and BA.2 (including BA.2.11). This increase in C1-screened samples corresponds to C1D1 screening results, confirming that these are Omicron sublineages carrying L452R and not a resurgence of Delta. On the other hand, the XD recombinant, which has been detected at low levels since early January 2022, was not detected during Flash S17 and Flash S18.

• More information is available in the variant risk analysis dated April 20, 2022.

More than 18% of those aged 80 and older have received a second booster dose

As of May 16, 2022, the estimated vaccination coverage in the general population was 79.7% for a complete primary vaccination series and 59.3% for the booster dose. Vaccination coverage for the booster dose was 74.1% among those aged 18 and older and 84.0% among those aged 65 and older. In addition, 9.7% of children aged 10 to 11 had received a first vaccine dose (3.2% for those aged 5 to 9). Among those aged 60–79, 5.3% had received a second booster dose (4.5% as of May 9, 2022), and 34.8% of those eligible had actually received it. Among those aged 80 and older, vaccination coverage for this second dose was 18.1% (16.7% as of May 9, 2022), and 25.5% of those eligible as of that date had received it.

Data on vaccination coverage by department, as well as data on the second booster dose across all age
groups and among residents in nursing homes (Ehpad) or long-term care facilities (USLD), are published on Géodes.