During the week from 11 to 17 January, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 1,036 to 859 (-17%), as did the number of their identified close contacts, dropping from 3,496 cases the previous week to 3,024 (-14%).
The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 11 to 17 January was 51,274 compared to 63,188 for the previous week.
As of 17 January, the number of active infections was 2,336 (compared to 2,720 on 10.01), while the number of people healed increased from 44,773 to 45,997. Also, the number of new deaths related to COVID-19 decreased from 26 to 19. The average age of the deceased is 77 years.
The average age of those diagnosed as COVID-19 positive remained stable at 38.7 years.
In the hospitals, the situation continued to relax, with 69 hospitalisations in normal care and 21 hospitalisations in intensive care of confirmed COVID patients for the week of 11 to 17 January, compared to 76, respectively 25, the previous week.
The two COVID-19 Consultation Centres (CCCs), located in Kirchberg and Esch-sur-Alzette, have recorded a total of 6,198 visits since their opening, including 266 visits for the week of 11 to 17 January, which is almost identical to the previous week (269).
Decrease in the positivity rate and incidence rate
The effective reproduction rate (R) decreased from 1.06% to 0.92%. The positivity rate on all the tests carried out (prescriptions, Large Scale Testing) was 1.68% compared to 1.64% the previous week (average over the week). It should be noted that the positivity rate for tests carried out on prescription, i.e. for people with symptoms, is 5.16%, compared to 5.67% the previous week.
The 7-day incidence rate is 137 per 100,000 residents. Note that for the week of 4 January, the incidence rate was 165 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days.
The incidence rate continues to decline slightly in all age groups. The 60-74 age group remains the age group with the lowest incidence rate with 86 cases per 100,000 people.
New LST test centre in Mersch as of 25 January 2021
In order to improve user access, the Large Scale Testing station in Roost (N7) will close its doors permanently from 23 January at 1 p.m. and will be replaced by a new test station in Mersch (77, rue d'Arlon) which will be operational as of 25 January 2021 at 7 a.m.
Quarantine and isolation
For the week from 11 to 17 January, 2,052 people were in isolation (-10%) and 2,379 in quarantine (+5% compared to the previous week).
Contaminations
For the 859 new cases, the family circle remains by far the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections with 44.2%, followed by returns from abroad (10.8%).
The rate of contaminations for which the source is not clearly attributable stands at 30.3%.
Vaccinations: update on the situation
For the week of 11 to 17 January, 2,053 people were vaccinated, bringing the total number of people vaccinated to 5,294 on 19 January.
Wastewater monitoring in Luxembourg as part of SARS-CoV-2
The latest CORONASTEP report drawn up by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), indicates that during the week of 11 to 17 January, SARS-CoV-2 flows in wastewater remain at a high but stable level, although a slight upward trend could be observed for some treatment plants.
All CORONASTEP reports are available on the LIST website: https://www.list.lu/en/covid-19/coronastep/.
Press release by the Ministry of Health and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)