COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 22 - 28 August 2022

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has increased from 751 to 777 cases (+3%) for the week of 22 to 28 August 2022.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 22 to 28 August has increased from 4,710 to 4,894.

9 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 19 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 3,445. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

On 28 August, the number of active infections had decreased to 1,869 (compared to 1,979 on 21 August), while the number of people healed increased from 282,783 to 283,668. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 42.7 years.

For the week of 22 to 28 August, 2 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 86 years.

In the hospitals, there were 8 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 9 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds is 1. The average age of hospitalised patients is 64 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) increased, with 1.01% compared to 0.98% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) decreased from 15.95% to 15.88%.

The 7-day incidence rate increased to 120 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 116 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 increased in all age groups, except in the 45-59 age group (-7%) and the 75+ age group (-39%). The most significant increase is recorded in the age group 30-34 years (+35%), followed by the age group 60-74 years (+29%).

The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 0-14 age group (96 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), while the highest incidence rate is recorded in the 30-44 age group with 230 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Contaminations

Travel abroad is the most frequent source (33%), followed by family activities (23%), and work (6%). The percentage of undetermined sources is 30%.

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 22 to 28 August 2022, a total of 1,622 doses were administered. 20 people received a 1st dose, 31 a 2nd dose, 151 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, 1,399 received a second complementary dose to a full vaccination and 21 received a third complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 29 August to 1,290,067.

474,526 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 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 CORONA STEP report is published every 15 days.

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 33th and 34th week of 2022 still shows a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at national level. The downward trend observed during the last two weeks (weeks 31 and 32) continues and the level of SARS-CoV-2 contamination in wastewater continues to decrease, both nationally and regionally, and may soon reach an average level. 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)