New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 15 - 21 November

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has increased from 1,447 to 1,897 cases (+31%) for the week of 15 to 21 November.

Among the 1,897 new infections, the incidence rate of positive non-vaccinated persons is 450.92 per 100,000 inhabitants and 217.71 per 100,000 inhabitants for those who had a complete vaccination pattern.

It should be noted that unvaccinated people are more than twice as likely to be infected as people with a full vaccination pattern (see also the graph below).

Among hospital admissions, 20 out of 39 patients in normal care were not vaccinated (19 had a complete vaccination pattern), while 4 out of 10 patients of intensive care were not vaccinated.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 15 to 21 November has increased from 18,930 to 23,542.

40 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 23 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 481. Since the introduction of self-tests, 804 positive results have been reported (with 0 cases for the week of 15 to 21 November). It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of 21 November, the number of active infections has increased to 3,331 compared to 2,607 on 14 November, while the number of people healed increased from 81,273 to 82,444. The average age of those diagnosed positive for COVID-19 has slightly decreased from 35.4 to 33.2 years.

For the week of 15 to 21 November, 2 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 68 years.

In the hospitals, there were 39 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 31 the previous week. The number of occupied beds in the intensive care unit decreased from 14 to 10. The average age of hospitalised patients remains stable at 58 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) increased, with 1.19% compared to 1.01 the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) increased from 7.64% to 8.06%.

The 7-day incidence rate increased to 299 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 228 per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week.

Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate has increased in all age groups, except in the 75+ age group. The largest increase was recorded in the 0-14 age group (+61%), followed by the 45-59 age group (+24%). The highest incidence rate is recorded in the 0-14 age group with 547 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 75+ age group.

Quarantine and isolation

During the week of 15 to 21 November, 3,320 people were in isolation (+22%) and 7,329 in quarantine (+82%).

Contaminations

For the 1,897 new cases, the family circle remains the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections with 31.7%, followed by education (16.9%), mostly in primary education (12.0%), work (6.3%) and travel abroad (5.0%). The rate of contamination for which the source is not clearly attributable increased to 32.0%.

Boudersberg school, Dudelang (scenario 4)

On 10 November, a positive case appeared in a school class of cycle 2. Four more cases were found on 14 November and a sixth on 15 November. The class was quarantined without an exit permit.

School centre Raoul Follereau, Rambrouch (scenario 4)

Six pupils from a class of cycle 2 tested positive in self-tests carried out on 21 November at home. The class was quarantined without an exit permit.

Chemin Rouge school, Sanem (scenario 1 and 3)

On 14 November 2021, a pupil tested positive in a class of cycle 2. Until 23 November, additional cases were found in five other classes of cycles 2, 3 and 4. A total of 14 students and one teacher were affected by COVID-19. Four classes were quarantined with an exit permit to attend classes. Two classes were quarantined without an exit permit.

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 15 to 21 November, a total of 18,088 doses were administered. 2,924 people received a 1st dose, 4,008 a 2nd dose and 11,156 people received a complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 23 November to 880,176.

425,854 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 77% of the eligible population (i.e. the 12+ population).

Additional vaccination shot ("booster"): An additional dose for the entire adult population

Vaccination remains the only way to fight the virus.

Since the effectiveness of the vaccine against the risk of infection decreases over time, a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine ("booster") will be offered to the entire adult population.

Invitations for a booster vaccination against COVID-19 will be sent by the Luxembourg Government by post to everyone who has received:

• a two-dose vaccine (Moderna, BioNTech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca): 6 months after a full vaccination
• a one-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson): 1 month after a full vaccination

The invitation will specify how to make an appointment at one of the vaccination centres or at a physician's office.

The vaccine used for the booster is an mRNA vaccine, regardless of the vaccine given in the primary vaccination. If an mRNA vaccine was used for the primary vaccination, the same product is used for the booster.

In this indication, mRNA vaccines are only authorised by the EMA for people aged 18 years or older, however Spikevax (Moderna) is currently not recommended for those under 30 years of age.

"Pop Up" Vaccination: to ease access to vaccination

To increase vaccination coverage, the Government has decided to facilitate access to vaccination by deploying temporary vaccination spots ("Pop Up" Vaccination) and mobile teams will be present in high-traffic areas (pedestrian zones, shopping malls).

Here are the dates for this month (the dates for December will be announced shortly):

• Pop Up Luxembourg City | from 11am to 6pm
  70, Grand-Rue
  L-1660 Luxembourg
  24 - 27 November from 11am to 6pm

• Cloche d'Or Shopping Centre | from 10am to 4pm
  25 Boulevard F.W. Raiffeisen
  L-2411 Luxembourg
  24, 26 and 29 November from 10am to 4pm

Other vaccination projects, in close cooperation with the municipalities, will soon be launched, along with the possibility of getting vaccinated in pharmacies, which are very widespread throughout the country.

The next vaccination spots will be communicated on www.covidvaccination.lu.

Please note that the vaccination can be done without appointment (identity card and CNS card required). People who come for their 2nd dose must also bring their vaccination certificate of the 1st dose.

The evolution of the variants

Variant sequencing data are published every Friday on the website of the National Health Laboratory (Laboratoire national de Santé, LNS) https://lns.lu/en/departement/department-of-microbiology/revilux/.

Wastewater monitoring in Luxembourg as part of SARS-CoV-2 

The level of contamination of the 13 sampled wastewater treatment plants studied by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology) during the week of 15 to 21 November showed a still high prevalence of coronavirus in wastewater at national level. This week's results again show an increase in SARS-CoV-2 flux, with a return to a level similar to that of last March-April. The general trend over several weeks, or even months, is clearly upwards. A general upward trend is also observed at regional level for most of the treatment plants analysed, with no regional disparities.

All CORONASTEP reports are available on the LIST website: https://www.list.lu/en/covid-19/coronastep/.

Press release by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth, the National Health Laboratory (LNS) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)