COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 25 April - 1 May 2022

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has decreased from 4,311 to 3,641 cases (-16%) for the week of 25 April to 1 May 2022.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 25 April to 1 May has decreased from 12,911 to 12,847.

79 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 58 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 2,893. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of 1 May, the number of active infections has decreased to 8,256 compared to 10,010 on 24 April, while the number of people healed increased from 224,204 to 229,593. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 39.1 years.

For the week of 25 April to 1 May, 6 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 84 years.

In the hospitals, there were 14 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 24 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds increased from 1 to 2. The average age of hospitalised patients is 60 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) decreased, with 0.82% compared to 0.89% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) decreased from 33.39% to 28.34%.

The 7-day incidence rate decreased to 564 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 668 per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week.

Re-infections as well as certified self-tests in schools were included in the calculation of incidence rates. Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate has decreased in all age groups, except in the 0-14 age group (+10%).

The largest decrease was recorded in the 30-44 age group (-22%), followed by the 60-74 and the 15-29 age groups (-18%), then the 45-59 age group (-16%). The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 60-74 age group (434 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), while the highest incidence rate is recorded in the 30-44 age group with 759 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Contaminations

As the number of new infections remains high, the identification of sources is currently not possible for all cases. Among the 4,287 resident cases registered in the week of 25 April to 1 May, only cases called and with a result date of 25.04 to 27.04 and 30.04. to 01.05. were examined and the source was determined.

The 2,154 cases called on these five days were used for the case source descriptions. The family circle remains the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections with 32%, followed by travel abroad (10%), and leisure activities, work and the care sector (7%). The percentage of undetermined sources has decreased (26%).

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 25 April to 1 May, a total of 2,067 doses were administered. 46 people received a 1st dose, 139 a 2nd dose, 536 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, and 1,346 received a second complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 2 May to 1,279,644.

473,070 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 78.7% of the eligible population (i.e. the 5+ population).

COVID-19: publication of daily reports and data on www.covid19.lu

In view of the current state of the pandemic and the stable situation at hospital level, the Ministry of Health will no longer publish the daily report on www.data.public.lu and the data on www.covid19.lu as of 16 May.

"Impf-Bus on tour"

The next stops of the "Impf-Bus on tour" will also be announced on www.covidvaccination.lu.

Please note that the vaccination can be done without appointment (identity card and CNS card required). The type of vaccination offered is the initial vaccination and the booster 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/publications-en/ 

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

According to the latest CORONASTEP report drawn up by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), the contamination level of the 13 wastewater treatment plants analysed during the sixteenth week of 2022 still shows a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at national level. The SARS-CoV-2 levels measured this week are very similar to those observed last week. Similar downward trends were observed for the different treatment plants analysed.

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)