Covid France: seventh wave ebbs but public urged to remain cautious

France’s seventh Covid wave is continuing its decline among all age groups and across the country, with infection rates having fallen by 34% over the past week.

In its weekly update published on Thursday (July 28), Santé publique France stated that there were 51,594 new cases detected on average each day over the preceding seven day period.

This is compared to an average of around 90,000 cases per day in the previous week, which was the first in nearly two months to see a dip in the number of people being infected.

However, Santé publique France is still calling for caution from the public, considering that the virus is “still actively circulating”.

The infection rate is highest among the 20 to 29-year-old age group, in which it is 1,000 for every 100,000 people.

The drop in case numbers has not yet been felt as keenly in hospitals; Santé publique France recorded 7,467 Covid-related hospitalisations in the week ending July 24, equating to a 16% decline in comparison to the previous week.

“A slight reduction was also observed in critical care across the country, but with marked disparities between regions, some regions still experiencing increasing admissions,” Santé publique France stated.

The BA.5 subvariant of Omicron represents 90% of the new Covid cases being detected.

Eligible groups encouraged to go for second booster

Santé publique is urging people eligible for a second booster vaccine dose to take up their offer, stating that, as of July 25, only 41.8% of over-80s had received their additional vaccination.

The second booster dose campaign is open to:

• People over the age of 12 who are immunosuppressed, from three months after their first booster

• People over 12 who have regular contact or who live with someone who is particularly vulnerable and/or immunosuppressed, from six months after their first booster

• Pregnant women, from the first trimester and at least six months after their first booster

• People aged between 18 and 59 who are more at risk from Covid because of an existing health condition, from six months after their first booster

• Over-60s, from six months after their first booster

• Over-80s, from three months after their first booster

• Care home residents, from three months after their first dose

Related articles

MPs pass amended bill to allow France to impose Covid border checks

Proof of Covid isolation in France: Who needs it and how to get one

Five million more people in France offered extra Covid booster