New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 28 September - 4 October

During the week of 28 September to 4 October, the number of residents testing positive for COVID-19 is up 19% with 549 people, compared to 460 the previous week. The number of contacts remains at a stable high level with 4,619 compared to 4,666 contacts (-1%) the previous week.

The number of PCR tests carried out on residents amounts to 38,647 compared to 36,887 the previous week.

As of 4 October, the number of active infections was 1,005 (compared to 1,122 on 27 September), while the number of people healed increased from 7,129 to 7,793. Hospital capacities were utilised more than in the previous week, without the hospitals being under strain. Two new deaths in connection with COVID-19 are to be deplored.

The effective reproduction rate (R) increased from 0.77 to 1.12 while the positivity rate on the tests carried out was 1.42% against 1.24% the previous week (average of the week).

The 7-day incidence rate is 87.68 per 100,000 residents.

During the week of 28 September to 4 October the average age of those diagnosed as COVID-19 positive increased slightly to 37,6 years.

Quarantine  and isolation

For the week of 28 September to 4 October, 1,498 people were in quarantine (-39% compared to the previous week) and 1,091 in isolation (-0% compared to the previous week).

Distribution of quarantines by age group

Contamination

For the week of 28 September to 4 October, the most important source of contamination is once again the family environment, with 25% of cases. 13% of the cases are related to travels abroad.

In addition, 8% of cases are related to the workplace, 7% to the education sector, 5% to the care and assistance sector, 3% to shared housing, 2% to parties with family or friends and 1% to organised leisure activities.

Waste water monitoring in Luxembourg as part of SARS-CoV-2

The latest CORONASTEP report, issued by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), shows that the national level of SARS-CoV-2 contamination increased in the country's waste water treatment plants during the week of 28 September to 4 October. This general trend is mainly the result of a significant increase in two separate waste water treatment plants, namely Schifflange and Wiltz. The increase in the level of contamination at the Wiltz station is therefore confirmed for the third week in a row. Specifically, the SARS-CoV-2 signal was present in nine of the thirteen treatment plants analysed and not present in the other four. Of the nine positive treatment plants, two had a level of contamination very close to the detection limit of the analytical test, while the others had a level of contamination similar to that of the previous week (week 39), with the exception of Schifflange and Wiltz. Geographical differences remain with the four waste water treatment plants more strongly impacted by the presence of the virus.

Press release by the Ministry of Health and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)