In its latest COVID-19 report, Luxembourg's Ministry of Health confirmed that the number of COVID-19 cases was down 11% last week compared to the week before.
For the week of 7 to 13 December 2020, the number of residents testing positive for COVID-19 decreased by 11% (from 3,797 to 3,422 cases) compared to the previous week. The number of identified contacts also decreased by 27%, from 10,708 to 8,861. The number of PCR tests carried out was 70,300 compared to 69,959 the week before.
As of Sunday 13 December 2020, the number of active infections stood at 8,123 (compared to 8,495 as of 6 December) and the number of people having recovered from the virus increased from 29,615 to 33,367. 43 new COVID-19-related deaths (compared to 39 the week before) were recorded, with the average age of those who died standing at 83. Among these deaths, 23 occurred in hospitals, nineteen in nursing homes and one at home.
Last week, hospitals treated 172 COVID-19 patients in normal care (up from 160 the previous week) and 47 in intensive care (up from 41). The average length of stay is currently ten days in normal care and thirteen days in intensive care. The ministry noted that a delay is thus reflected in the figures relating to the occupency rate in intensive care as patients are transferred from normal to intensive care.
The effective reproduction rate (RT eff) fell from 1.03 to 0.87 and the positivity rate on all tests carried out was 4.87% compared to 5.43% (weekly average) the previous week. The incidence rate was 546 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (down from 606) over seven days. With the exception of the 0-14 age group, the incidence rate decreased slightly across all ages last week and consequently in the general population. Those aged 75+ continued to be the most affected, followed by the 15-29 age group. The incidence rate in people aged 60-74 remained somewhat lower. The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 decreased from 40.2 to 39.3 years.
For the week of 7 to 13 December, 7,418 people were in isolation and 9,813 were in quarantine (down 14% from the previous week).
The source of infection was not clearly attributable in 39.9% of cases. According to an analysis carried out over two full days (7-8 December) and covering 1,118 cases, the family circle remained the most frequent source (36.9%) of COVID-19 infections.
In addition, the country's two COVID-19 Consultation Centres (CCC), open in Luxembourg-Kirchberg since 27 October and in Esch-sur-Alzette since 18 November 2020, have recorded a total of 4,205 visits, including 721 visits for the week of 7 to 13 December.
The latest CORONASTEP report drawn up by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) indicated that the level of SARS-CoV-2 contamination of wastewater remained high last week. However, the latest data collected confirmed the downward trend observed in previous weeks.
