COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 19 - 25 September 2022

During the week of 19 to 25 September, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 increased to 1,300 cases, compared to 999 cases the previous week.

In addition, 613 people were re-infected, representing 32.0% of all those who tested positive, compared to 423 (29.7%) the previous week.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 19 to 25 September has increased from 5,653 to 6,455.

12 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 3,498. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

On 25 September, the number of active infections has increased to 2,611 (compared to 2,076 on 18 September), while the number of people healed increased from 285,961 to 286,726. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 40.5 years.

For the week of 19 to 25 September, no new death related to COVID-19 has been reported.

In the hospitals, there were 11 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 6 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds is 1. The average age of hospitalised patients is 54 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) increased, with 1.18% compared to 1.15% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) increased from 17.67% to 20.17%.

The 7-day incidence rate increased to 201 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 155 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.

The largest increase was recorded in the 5-14 age group (+116%) and the 95+ age group (+63%).

The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 80-84 age group with 148 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The highest incidence rates are recorded in the 30-39 age group (398 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), the 5-9 age group (383 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) and the 95+ age group (382 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).

Contaminations

Among the 1,923 resident cases in the week of 19-25 September 2022, 706 (37%) cases were reviewed and the source was determined until 20 September 2022 inclusive.

The family circle remains the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections (26%), followed by travel abroad (17%), education (9%) and work (8%). The percentage of undetermined sources has decreased (29%).

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 19 to 25 September 2022, a total of 1,879 doses were administered. 16 people received a 1st dose, 31 a 2nd dose, 106 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, 1,701 received a second complementary dose to a full vaccination and 25 received a third complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 26 September to 1,290,631.

474,630 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.

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 37th and 38th week of 2022 shows a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The contamination level of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater seemed to be stabilised until week 37, but shows again a slight increasing trend since week 38. Similar trends were observed at regional level, with a constant level of SARS-CoV-2 in almost all wastewater treatment plants, with the exception of Mersch and Bleesbruck, where a significant increase was observed. However, further analysis is needed to confirm or not this upward trend.

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)