Key Points

In Week 04, SARS-CoV-2 transmission stabilized at a low level nationwide. New hospitalizations and deaths continued to decline.

• Mainland France:

  • Incidence and positivity rates rose slightly in half of the regions to a low level, while they decreased or remained stable in the other regions

  • Testing rates have stabilized across all regions

  • Hospitalization rates are decreasing in most regions

  • Number of deaths decreasing

• Overseas territories:

  • Incidence and positivity rates are decreasing in all regions, with the highest rates in Réunion

Variants

• BA.5 is ubiquitous (78% of sequences in the Flash S03 survey); among its sublineages, BQ.1.1 appears to be declining (60% vs. 73% in Flash S02).

• All currently described Omicron sublineages exhibit similar characteristics.

Prevention

• Vaccination as of January 31, 2023 (Covid Vaccine data):

  • 21.2% of those aged 60–79 had received a booster tailored to the Omicron variant (26.1% of those eligible); these figures were 23.9% and 27.6%, respectively, among those aged 80 and older;

  • 28.1% of those aged 60–79 and 20.6% of those aged 80 and older had received a vaccine dose within the past 6 and 3 months, respectively.

• Given the continued circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal viruses, it is essential to maintain adherence 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, as well as against the flu;

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

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