Key Points

• Short-lived 2019–20 influenza epidemic (7 weeks)

• Predominance of A(H1N1) and B/Victoria viruses, low circulation of A(H3N2)

• Epidemic peaked in mid-February 2020

• Moderate impact of the epidemic on outpatient care

• Moderate impact on hospital care (emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and ICU admissions)

• Low number of reports of clusters of acute respiratory infections in elderly care facilities

• Low impact in terms of mortality

• The flu outbreak particularly affected children and young adults

• Older adults were relatively spared in terms of hospitalizations and deaths, partly due to the low circulation of A(H3N2)

• Vaccination coverage among at-risk groups is increasing (52.1%), but remains below the 75% target.

• The 2019–2020 winter season was marked by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in France