Key Points

The decline in the epidemic continued for the fifth consecutive week, although virological indicators, hospital admissions
(both general and critical care), and mortality rates remain at high levels. Martinique remains in Phase 3, “epidemic.”

The positivity rate was stable and the incidence rate was decreasing, with a decline in testing. The age group with the highest incidence remained 15–44 years old, particularly those aged 30–49. The effective reproduction number (R_e), calculated from SI-DEP data for samples collected between September 12 and 18, was 0.69 [0.65–0.74], significantly below 1, reflecting the decline of the epidemic. At the hospital level, the number of admissions across all departments and to intensive care units was decreasing. Excess mortality, across all ages and causes of death, has been recorded since week 2021-30. The Delta variant has been predominant since week 2021-31.

The Delta variant accounted for more than 75% of interpretable sequences in Flash Survey #20 (August 17) in the overseas territories (data for Flash Surveys #21 and #22 are not yet interpretable).

In Martinique, among the RT-PCR tests screened in week 2021-37 for mutations of interest, the proportion of the L452R mutation (carried primarily by the Delta variant) was 91.7% last week (versus 86.7% the previous week).