COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 01 - 07 August 2022

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has decreased from 2,000 to 1,310 cases (-34%) for the week of 01 to 07 August 2022.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 01 to 07 August has decreased from 7,787 to 6,314.

17 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 18 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 3,401. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

On 07 August, the number of active infections had decreased to 5,966 (compared to 8,904 on 31 July), while the number of people healed increased from 275,850 to 279,398. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 44.1 years.

For the week of 01 to 07 August, 4 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 85 years.

In the hospitals, there were 14 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 17 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds is 2. The average age of hospitalised patients is 65 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) increased, with 0.78% compared to 0.62% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) decreased from 25.68% to 20.75%.

The 7-day incidence rate decreased to 203 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 310 per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week.

Re-infections as well as certified self-tests were included in the calculation of incidence rates. Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate has decreased in all age groups. The greatest decrease is recorded in the age groups over 45 years (-39%), followed by the 0-14 age group (-38%); while it is in the range of -34% to -35% in the 15-44 age groups.

The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 0-14 age group (124 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), while the highest incidence rate is recorded in the 30-44 age group with 358 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Contaminations

With the number of cases remaining high, it is difficult to identify, review and determine the likely source of infection, as well as the proportion of positive cases from residents who had travelled in the 14 days prior to the date of the result for the past week's cases.

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 01 to 07 August 2022, a total of 5,491 doses were administered. 15 people received a 1st dose, 52 a 2nd dose, 325 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, 5,067 received a second complementary dose to a full vaccination and 32 received a third complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 08 August to 1,289,323.

474,409 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 78.9% of the eligible population (i.e. the 5+ population).

"Impf-Bus on tour"

The next stops of the "Impf-Bus on tour" will 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.

Vaccinations in the "Impfbus" are done without prior appointment, which means that you have to wait for your turn, which can cause waiting times, especially during busy periods. In order to avoid long waiting times and for greater convenience, it is advisable to make an appointment at the vaccination centre, with a doctor or at a pharmacy.

REMINDER: Closure of the Victor Hugo vaccination centre after 13 August

The Victor Hugo vaccination centre will close on 13 August at 1pm. People wishing to be vaccinated are invited to take advantage of the vaccination facilities offered by town practices (general practitioners and paediatricians), pharmacies and the vaccination bus.

The list of all vaccination possibilities can be consulted on the following website: covidvaccination.lu

No retrospective for the week of 8-14 August 2022

For the week of 8-14 August the Ministry of Health will not issue the weekly report. The next weekly report will be available on 24 August 2022.

The evolution of the variants

Variant sequencing data is 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

Exceptionally, no CORONASTEP report was issued for week 31.

The next report is planned for Tuesday 17 August 2022 and will contain data for weeks 31 and 32.

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)