The Omicron variant becomes the majority in France just before the New Year

Olivier Véran had warned, explaining on December 22 that the Omicron variant would be “in the majority between Christmas and New Year”. His prediction was confirmed. According to figures from Public Health France, 62.4% of “screened” tests, the majority method for analyzing positive tests, were compatible with this variant at the start of the week. On December 13, this strain, which appeared in southern Africa, represented only 15% of cases.

All metropolitan and overseas regions are affected, while the incidence rate explodes. Public Health France is also alerting to the situation in Ile-de-France, Corsica and the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur and Rhône-Alpes regions, where the incidence rate is greater than 1,000. The agency also notes a stronger increase among 20-39 year olds.

However, the level of hospitalizations remains “stable at a high level”, which seems to confirm that the Omicron variant causes less severe forms. But these figures must be handled with caution, because the hospital wave always occurs out of step with the epidemic wave.