"62.4% of the tests screened showed a profile compatible with the Omicron variant" at the beginning of the last week of the year, against 15% the previous one, the public agency found in its last weekly survey, published Thursday evening.
This progression of the variant B.1.1.529, called Omicron, was expected, as it is particularly contagious and had already become the majority in other countries such as the United Kingdom and Portugal.
It has contributed to the current surge in cases, which topped 200,000 per day in France on Wednesday and Thursday.
In total, French hospitals welcome 18,321 Covid patients including 1,922 new admitted only between Wednesday and Thursday, and more than 3,500 patients in critical care.
Coronavirus: the situation in France Simon MALFATTO AFP
"Omicron has been detected throughout the country, both in mainland France and overseas," said Bruno Coignard, head of infectious diseases at Public Health France at a press conference.
However, the situation varies by region with "a very high proportion" of Omicron cases suspected in the Paris region but a rate "around 20%" in the South, he said.
"This variant being very transmissible, it will (...) homogenize", concluded Mr. Coignard.
Faced with the tidal wave of contamination, the government announced on Monday new health restriction measures such as the compulsory use of telework in the companies concerned or the return of gauges for public events.
The executive also decided to speed up the timetable for the bill transforming the health pass into a vaccination pass, which will be discussed as of Monday in the National Assembly then on January 5 in the Senate with an implementation expected on January 15.
The epidemic has killed a total of 123,552 people in France.
© 2021 AFP