From December 27, 2021 to January 2, 17.1% of Covid-19 tests were positive. “A level never reached since the start of the pandemic”, notes Nicolas Méthy, epidemiologist at Public Health France (SPF). Almost 2% of the entire French population has tested positive. The average incidence rate has more than doubled compared to the previous week (+ 129%), climbing to 1,908 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
These are three of the striking findings of the epidemiological point of SPF drawn up on January 6. The average incidence that week (week 52) was over 168,000 new cases per day. An underestimated figure, recognizes SPF, because of a traffic jam on the tests. Monday, January 3, 409,370 people tested positive, according to the SI-DEP platform, which brings together data from laboratories and caregivers.
“This wave of unprecedented magnitude concerns all of Europe, recalls Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute for Global Health at the University of Geneva. No flu epidemic has ever reached such a level of contamination. “
In mainland France, the incidence rate reached 3,036 in Ile-de-France (+ 115%), 2,444 in Corsica (+ 135%) and 2,072 in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (+ 106%). Overseas, it was 281 in Reunion (+ 92%), 1,218 in Guadeloupe (+ 486%) and 870 in Mayotte (+ 664%).
All age groups affected
All age groups are affected. The maximum incidence rate concerned 20-29 year olds, with 3,606 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by 30-39 year olds, with 2,905 cases. Among 10-19 year olds and 40-49 year olds, this rate exceeded 2,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The most marked increases affected the 80-89 years (+ 212%, with 622 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and the 70-79 years (+ 207%, with 771 cases). “Among 70-89 year olds, the incidence has more than tripled compared to the previous week”, notes Nicolas Méthy.
In week 52, the number of new hospitalizations increased (+ 18%), and this in almost all regions. As for admissions to critical care, they remained stable (- 3%). Can we rejoice in this latest stagnation? ” It’s still early, says Mircea Sofonea, an epidemiologist at the University of Montpellier. The risk is that the particularly intense level of circulation observed among 20-39 year olds will end up reaching younger and older circles ”, he emphasizes. This is, in fact, what we are beginning to observe. Corn “Omicron’s hospital impact can only be quantified in the coming weeks”, adds the epidemiologist. The number of deaths (1,275) has increased by 6%.
You have 49.77% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.