Epidemiological Situation

Since early March, 8,127 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in French Guiana: last week, fewer than 60 cases were confirmed daily on average since the last epidemiological update; one month after the peak in French Guiana, the downward trend in the epidemic has resumed. The weekly incidence has fallen by 25%, standing at 150 per 100,000 inhabitants. The positivity rate has also resumed its decline and stood at 12% last week, representing a reduction of one-third. The French Guiana Sentinel Physicians Network, along with emergency departments, confirms these trends of decreasing symptoms related to COVID-19. As expected during a period of declining epidemic activity, due to fewer people exhibiting symptoms, the number of tests performed has also begun to decline. However, testing pressure remains high, with nearly twice as many tests performed per capita as in mainland France. Currently in French Guiana, 8 out of 10 people tested reported no symptoms, and 1 out of 2 confirmed cases had no symptoms: these indicators demonstrate the high level of testing, far beyond individual diagnosis.

By region:

• The decline in new cases is accelerating on the island of Cayenne and in Kourou.

• In St. Laurent du Maroni, while the epidemic developed more slowly and later—with a lag of at least two weeks compared to Cayenne—a decline has now been clearly underway for the past eight days.

• On the Maroni River, viral circulation remains epidemic in Maripa Soula and affects all communities along the river, with significant local variations.

• In St Georges, the outbreak is winding down with a few cases per week.

• Viral circulation is low or nonexistent in the other municipalities of French Guiana. The average number of new hospitalizations per day is slowly decreasing compared to the previous week, and fewer than one admission per day has occurred in intensive care (compared to two the previous week), further confirming the decline of the epidemic at the hospital level, even though the total number of people hospitalized due to underlying health conditions or severe cases remains high. French Guiana has recorded 47 hospital deaths to date.

The challenge today remains to control the spread observed along the western coast and in the Maroni region, and to reduce the circulation of the virus in French Guiana by continuing to adhere to preventive measures in daily life. In particular, the most vulnerable are protected only by the responsible actions of those around them. Getting tested, even without symptoms, is an opportunity to protect yourself and your loved ones.

“Test, trace, isolate”: efforts to identify, test, and prevent the spread continued last week, with a total of 365 people tested across 17 operations, yielding a positivity rate of 13%. This coordination between the ARS and local partners (the French Red Cross, Médecins du Monde, supported by the health reserve) and local authorities is essential, as is contact tracing for all newly confirmed cases by the Health Insurance teams. Please note that anyone can now get tested without a doctor’s prescription. This testing is fully covered by the Health Insurance system.