New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 29 November - 5 December

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has increased from 2,373 to 2,699 cases (+14%) for the week of 29 November to 5 December.

Among the 2,699 new infections, the incidence rate of positive non-vaccinated persons is 662.67 per 100,000 inhabitants and 305.48 per 100,000 inhabitants for those who had a complete vaccination pattern.

It should be noted that non-vaccinated people are more than twice as likely to be infected as people with a full vaccination pattern.

Among hospital admissions, 24 out of 50 patients in normal care were not vaccinated (26 had a complete vaccination pattern), while 8 out of 16 patients of intensive care were not vaccinated.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 29 November to 5 December has increased from 27,439 to 30,268.

35 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 60 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 576. Since the introduction of self-tests, 804 positive results have been reported (with 0 cases for the week of 29 November to 5 December). It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of 5 December, the number of active infections has increased to 5,098 compared to 4,269 on 28 November, while the number of people healed increased from 83,967 to 85,726. The average age of those diagnosed positive for COVID-19 has slightly decreased from 33.4 to 33.2 years.

For the week of 29 November to 5 December, 11 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 84 years.

In the hospitals, there were 50 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 43 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds increased from 11 to 16. The average age of patients increased from 58 to 64 years.

Positivity rate  and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) decreased, with 1.03% compared to 1.16% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) increased from 8.65% to 8.92%.

The 7-day incidence rate increased to 425 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 374 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 (-14%). The largest increase was recorded in the 15-29 age group (+22%), followed by the 60-74 age group (+14%). The highest incidence rate is recorded in the 0-14 age group with 758 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 75+ age group, with 147 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Quarantine and isolation

During the week of 29 November to 5 December, 5,066 people were in isolation (+25%) and 8,760 in quarantine (+9%).

Contaminations

For the 2,699 new cases (recorded between 29 November and 5 December 2021), the family circle remains the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections with 36.3%, followed by education (19.0%), mostly in primary education (13.9%), work (7.4%) and leisure activities (5.0%). The percentage of undetermined sources has increased (27.3%).

Scenario 4 at the primary school in Mersch

On 25 November, 1 pupil tested positive in a class of cycle 3.2. In the same class, another 4 pupils tested positive on 28 November and 2 on 29 November. The class is quarantined until 3 December.

In addition, a high number of positive cases have appeared at the "Raoul Follereau" in Koetschette school centre and at the primary school in Redange. The situation is being closely monitored.

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 29 November to 5 December, a total of 32,959 doses were administered. 3,530 people received a 1st dose, 3,398 a 2nd dose and 26,031 people received a complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 7 December to 940,551.

434,615 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 78.6% of the eligible population (i.e. the 12+ population).

Booster dose:  Temporary reopening of a fourth vaccination centre in the hangar of the LAR at Findel

In order to offer all those concerned by a COVID-19 booster vaccine an additional opportunity to get vaccinated, the Government has decided to temporarily reopen the Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR) vaccination centre at Findel. The LAR vaccination centre will open its doors this Friday 10 December. Details regarding opening hours can be found at www.covidvaccination.lu.

It should be noted that the vaccination centre will be used exclusively for the administration of booster doses by appointment.

The booster dose can of course be administered, without any invitation from the Government, by the general practitioner or in a "Pop Up"  vaccination spot. 

Pop Up Vaccination: "Lëtzebuerg léisst sech impfen"

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, events organised by some municipalities).

The list of all new vaccination spots, which is constantly being extended and updated, can be consulted on the website www.covidvaccination.lu.

IMPF'O'DAY - "Lët'z talk about vaccination": B2B AND B2C conference-debate on vaccination against COVID-19

As part of the Vaccination Week ("Impfwoch"), the Ministry of Health is organising the IMPF'O'DAY on Saturday 11 December at the European Convention Center (ECCL). The day will consist of two conference-debates bringing together various health experts who will discuss the topic of vaccination against COVID-19 and answer questions from the public.

The morning conference will be aimed at people working in the health sector, while the afternoon conference will be dedicated to the general public.

Among the experts invited for the two conferences will be Dr Charles Benoy, Dr Thomas Dentzer, Christophe Dohm (Nurse), Dr Isabel De La Fuente Garcia, Dr Claude Muller, Dr Jean-Claude Schmit (the Director of Health), Dr Gérard Schockmel and Annick Schons (Nurse).

Please note that the participation at the conferences is free of charge.

For more information on the conference-debates please visit this link: https://impfen.lu/impfoday/

Incidence rates of those testing positive based on vaccination status reported since 6 December

The system in place for monitoring COVID-19 in Luxembourg is continuously adapted to produce indicators that reflect the evolution of the epidemic in real time.

From 6 December 2021, the incidence rates of new infections based on vaccination status are included in the daily reports. These new infections only concern people testing positive by PCR test. As a consequence, an adaptation of the key indicators of the daily status report will be put in place at this date on www.covid19.public.lu.

The Excel file of the incidence rates of people testing positive based on vaccination status will be uploaded every Friday end of day on the website www.data.public.lu.

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 29 November to 5 December showed a still high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at national level. This week's results show a similar flow of SARS-CoV-2 as last week, with a stabilisation of the signal at a high level. A similar 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)