COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 20 - 26 September

For the week of 20 to 26 September, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has increased from 542 to 590 cases (+9%), as well as the number of their identified close contacts, which increased to 2,421, compared to 1,857 cases the week before (+30%).

Among the 590 new infections, 380 people were not vaccinated or partially vaccinated (64.4%) and 210 people had a complete vaccination pattern (35.6%).

Among hospital admissions, 70% of normal care patients were not or partially vaccinated and 30% had a complete vaccination pattern, while 84% of intensive care patients were not or partially vaccinated.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 20-26 September dropped sharply (due to the ending of the Large Scale Testing programme) with 13,131 tests performed (compared to 28,992 the previous week).

5 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) in the reporting week, compared to 8 in the previous week, bringing the number of positive RAT results by a health professional to a total of 319. Since the introduction of self-tests, 804 positive results have been reported (with 0 cases for the week of 20 to 26 September). It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of 26 September, the number of active infections was 1,069 (compared to 1.038 on 19 September), while the number of people healed increased from 75,468 to 76,026. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 has increased from 29.5 to 30.6 years.

For the week of 20 to 26 September, 1 new death related to COVID-19 has been reported.

In the hospitals, there were 16 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 21 the previous week. The number of occupied beds in the intensive care unit decreased from 9 to 8. The average age of patients increased from 48 to 57 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) increased from 0.98 to 1.05, as well as the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescription, Large Scale Testing, contact tracing) with 1.87% compared to 4.49% the previous week. The positivity rate for tests carried out on prescription, i.e. for people with symptoms, which slightly decreased from 5.06% to 4.50%.

The 7-day incidence rate increased to 93 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 85 per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week.

Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate has increased in all age groups, except in the 15-29 age group. The largest increase was recorded in the 60-74 age group (+41%), followed by the 30-44 (+27%) and the 75+ age groups (+27%). The incidence rate has decreased in the 15-29 age group (-15%).

The 0-14 years age group continues to have the highest incidence rate with 166 cases per 100,000 residents, followed by the age group 30-44 years, with 112 cases per 100,000 residents.

The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the age groups 75+ and 60-74 years.

Quarantine and isolation

During the week of 20 to 26 September, 1,218 people were in isolation (-3%) and 2,534 in quarantine (+74%).

Contaminations

For the 590 new cases, the family circle remains the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections with 36.1%, followed by travel abroad (11.9%), education (11.2%) and leisure activities (5.4%) The rate of contamination for which the source is not clearly attributable decreased to 27.8%.

Scenario 4 in the preschool section of the Edward Steichen International School in Clervaux 

Following two positive cases reported on 24 September, scenario 2 was implemented and pupils in two preschool classes at the Edward Steichen International School in Clervaux were quarantined until 1 October inclusive.

Between 25 and 27 September 2021, a further seven students from these two classes tested positive so that a scenario 4 was declared. The system in place was not affected as the duration of the quarantine remained unchanged.

On 27 September, a first positive case was also reported in a third class of the preschool. In view of the regular mixing of pupils from the six classes that make up the kindergarten (common classes, common groups in the Maison Relais) and the specific health measures for this age group (no masks worn, close contact, isolation in scenario 1), it was decided to quarantine not only this 3rd class, but also the three remaining preschool classes, until 1 October 2021.

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 20 to 26 September, a total of 4,922 doses were administered. 2,269 people received a 1st dose, 2,602 a 2nd dose and 51 a 3rd dose, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 21 September to 785,299. 404,449 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 73% of the eligible population (i.e. the 12+ population).

Upcoming events of the "Impf-Bus on tour"

The vaccination bus will be present at the following events:

• Saturday, 2 October from 11.30am to 16pm at the Braderie de Differdange
• Sunday, 3 October from 10am to 4pm at the Open Door of the St. Joseph Institute in Betzdorf
• Saturday, 9 October from 9am to 3 pm at the "Nëssmoort" in Vianden

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). People who come for their 2nd dose must also bring their vaccination certificate for the 1st 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/departement/department-of-microbiology/revilux/.

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

The contamination level of the 13 analysed waste water treatment plants by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), during the week of 20 to 26 September indicates a moderate prevalence of the virus in waste water at national level. A significant decrease in virus circulation was observed at the beginning of the week and also at the end of the week. Next week's results will be important to confirm if this trend continues.

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)