Credit: MSAN

In its latest COVID-19 report, Luxembourg's Ministry of Health confirmed that the number of COVID-19 cases was down 17% last week compared to the week before.

For the week of 11 to 17 January 2021, the number of residents testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 1,036 to 859 people (down 17%) over one week. The number of identified contacts also fell from 3,496 to 3,024 (down 14%) during this period. The number of PCR tests carried out amounted to 51,274, compared to 63,188 tests the previous week.

As of Sunday 17 January 2021, the number of active infections stood at 2,336 (compared to 2,720 as of 10 January) and the number of people having recovered from the virus increased from 44,773 to 45,997. The number of weekly deaths decreased from 26 to 19, with the average age of those who died standing at 77.

The situation in hospitals continued to ease, with 69 COVID-19 patients being treated in normal care and 21 in intensive care, down from 76 and 25 respectively the previous week.

The two COVID-19 consultation centres (CCC), located in Luxembourg-Kirchberg and Esch-sur-Alzette, have recorded a total of 6,198 visits to date, including 266 visits last week - almost identical to the previous week (269).

The effective reproduction rate (RT eff) decreased slightly from 1.06% to 0.92%. The positivity rate on all the tests carried out remained stable at 1.68% compared to 1.64% the previous week (weekly average). The positivity rate on tests performed through a doctor's prescription (i.e. people with symptoms) was 5.16% (down from 5.67%). The incidence rate was 137 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (down from 165) over seven days.

The incidence rate continued to decline slightly in all age groups. The 60-74 age group remained that with the lowest incidence rate, with 86 cases per 100,000 people. The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 remained stable at 38.7 years.

For the week of 11 to 17 January, 2,052 people were in isolation (down 10% over one week) and 2,379 were in quarantine (up 5%).

The family circle remained the most frequent context of transmission of COVID-19 infections (44.2%), followed by travel abroad (10.8%). The source of infection was not clearly attributable in 30.3% of cases.

Last week, 2,053 people received the COVID-19 vaccine, bringing the total to 5,294 people (as of 19 January).

The latest CORONASTEP report drawn up by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) indicated that, for the week in question, the level of SARS-CoV-2 contamination of wastewater remained high but stable, although a slight upward trend was observed in some treatment plants.