Key points

In week 43, the resurgence of the pandemic was confirmed by the continued increase in the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in metropolitan France.

• Metropolitan France:

  • Incidence rate above 50 per 100,000 inhabitants among 10- to 79-year-olds

  • Incidence rate above 50 per 100,000 inhabitants in 58 departments

  • R number >1, reflecting the growth of the epidemic

  • Significant decline in the testing rate among children under 10 due to school holidays

  • Rate of new hospital and intensive care admissions: varying trends depending on the region

• Overseas France:

  • French Guiana: incidence rate still falling

Variants

• Delta variant identified in 100% of sequenced samples in Flash Surveys on October 5 and 12, 2021

Contact tracing

• Higher number of cases but stable number of contacts per case

• Increase in the average age of cases and contacts since week 37, calling for greater vigilance and the administration of the booster dose to eligible populations

Prevention

• Vaccination as of November 2, 2021 (Covid Vaccine Data):

  • 76.4% of the French population had received at least one vaccine dose, and 74.6% were fully vaccinated

  • 19.8% of people aged 65 and older had received a booster dose

• Importance of combining measures: vaccination, including the booster for people over 65, adherence to contact tracing, and compliance with preventive measures