COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 12 - 18 September 2022

During the week of 12 to 18 September, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 increased to 999 cases compared to 757 cases the previous week.

In addition, 423 people were re-infected, representing 29.7% of all those who tested positive, compared to 319 (29.6%) the previous week.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 12 to 18 September has increased from 5,144 to 5,653.

19 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 16 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 3,486. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

On 18 September, the number of active infections has increased to 2,066 (compared to 1,795 on 11 September), while the number of people healed increased from 285,245 to 285,971. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 42.3 years.

For the week of 12 to 18 September, 2 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 78 years.

In the hospitals, there were 6 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 5 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds is 1. The average age of hospitalised patients is 49 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) increased, with 1.15% compared to 1.08% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) increased from 14.72% to 17.67%.

The 7-day incidence rate decreased to 155 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 117 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 increases in the age groups 0-14 years (+45%), 45-59 years (+3%), 60-74 years (+85%) and the 75+ age group (+171%). A decrease is recorded in the age group 15-29 years (-1%), and 30-44 years (-16%).

The lowest incidence rate is in the 75+ age group (129 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), while the highest incidence rate is in the 30-44 age group (303 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).

Contaminations

Among the 1,429 resident cases in the week of 12-18 September 2022, 980 cases were reviewed and the source was determined until 15.09.22 inclusive.

Travel abroad is the most frequent source (27%), followed by family activities (21%), and leisure activities (11%). The percentage of undetermined sources has decreased (31%).

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 12 to 18 September, a total of 1,428 doses were administered. 23 people received a 1st dose, 33 a 2nd dose, 103 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, 1,251 received a second complementary dose to a full vaccination and 18 received a third complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 18 September to 1,290,474.

474,598 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 79% 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.

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

The CORONASTEP report is published every 15 days.

The next report is planned for Tuesday 27 September and will contain data for weeks 37 and 38.

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)