Key Points

In Week 14, the positivity rate (based on SI-DEP virological data) continued to rise despite a decline in testing rates. Visits to emergency departments were down, as were new hospitalizations.

• Mainland France:

  • Incidence and testing rates declining in most age groups

  • Positivity rates rising in most age groups

  • Hospitalization rates decreasing in most regions

• Overseas territories:

  • Incidence and hospitalization rates remain at very low levels

Variants

• The XBB.1.5 recombinant appeared to be stabilizing, accounting for 59% of sequences in the Flash 12 survey

• The BQ.1 sublineage continued to decline (7% for Flash S12 vs. 12% for Flash 11)

Prevention

• Vaccination as of April 10, 2023 (Covid Vaccine data):

  • 23.5% of those aged 60–79 and 26.2% of those aged 80 and older had received a booster tailored to the Omicron variant

  • 24.0% of those aged 60–79 and 5.1% of those aged 80 and older had received a dose administered less than 6 and 3 months ago, respectively.

• Given the ongoing circulation of SARS-CoV-2, it remains recommended to continue adhering to the following combined measures:

  • up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, including a booster dose with a bivalent vaccine (against the original strain and the Omicron variant) for those eligible who have received their primary series;

  • continued adherence to preventive measures, particularly in the event of a positive test result and/or symptoms, to protect vulnerable individuals.

Learn more

• See our report on the COVID-19 pandemic

• Go directly to the graphs and tables of indicators on InfoCovidFrance

• Visit our page on variants

• View all national epidemiological updates