COVID-19: Epidemiological Update for French Guiana as of February 18, 2021

Published on 19 February 2021

Key Points

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has declined for the fourth consecutive week: last week, an average of 16 cases were confirmed each day. The incidence rate has dropped from 70 to 38.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and the positivity rate from 3.9% to 2.3%.
This trend is observed throughout the territory: the incidence is below 50 per 100,000 in the Cayenne Island, Kourou-Macouria, and Western Coast sectors, and fewer than 10 cases were confirmed in the Maroni and Oyapock sectors.
New hospitalizations also decreased last week, and ICU admissions remained stable at a low level (3 new ICU admissions compared to 1 the previous week).
Two new deaths were reported this week.
As of February 16, the effective reproduction number (R_eff) for confirmed cases was estimated at 0.46 [0.38–0.55], down from last week.
Epidemiological indicators (incidence and positivity rates) and hospitalization rates are therefore at a low level, identical to those observed in October 2020, when viral circulation in French Guiana was at its lowest level since March 4, 2020. The second wave of the epidemic therefore appears to have ended in the territory.
Precautionary measures (wearing masks, social distancing, handwashing, etc.) and testing at the slightest sign of symptoms must nevertheless be maintained at a high level among the population to prevent any early resurgence of the epidemic.
As of February 16, 2,011 people had been vaccinated in French Guiana. Vaccination coverage for those aged 75 and older stands at 8.5% in French Guiana. Since February 14, vaccination has been expanded to all healthcare workers and all individuals over the age of 50 in French Guiana.
Genomic surveillance of variants in French Guiana: among the 118 samples sequenced in January, 2 cases of VOCs B.1.1.28 and P.1 (Manaus) were confirmed. Concurrently, 4 suspected cases of VOC B.1.1.7 (UK) were identified via PCR screening and are currently being confirmed. The data suggest a low level of variant circulation in French Guiana.