In its latest COVID-19 report, Luxembourg's Ministry of Health confirmed that the number of COVID-19 cases had gone up 14% last week compared to the week before.

For the week of 1 to 7 February 2021, the number of residents testing positive for COVID-19 increased from 999 to 1,140 people (up 14%) over one week. The number of identified contacts rose from 2,774 to 4,067 (up 47%). The number of PCR tests carried out over one week also increased from 51,337 to 61,488.

As of Sunday 7 February 2021, the number of active infections stood at 2,465 (compared to 2,276 as of 31 January) and the number of people having recovered from the virus increased from 47,878 to 48,816. The number of weekly deaths stood at thirteen (compared to fourteen the previous week), with the average age of those who died remaining unchanged at 86.

The situation in hospitals remained relatively stable, with 50 COVID-19 patients being treated in normal care and thirteen in intensive care, compared to 55 and thirteen respectively the previous week.

The two COVID-19 consultation centres (CCC), located in Luxembourg-Kirchberg and Esch-sur-Alzette, have recorded a total of 7,269 visits to date, including 429 visits last week (compared to 359 the previous week).

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) decreased slightly from 1.10% to 1.05% and the positivity rate on all tests performed decreased from 1.95% to 1.85% over one week (weekly average). The positivity rate on tests performed through a doctor's prescription (people with symptoms) once again fell below the 5% mark, with 4.83% (down from 5.19%). The incidence rate was 182 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (up from 160) over seven days. 

The incidence rate continued to increase among children aged 0-14 (up 46%) and among adults aged 30-44 (up 29%) and 60-74 (up 41%). The 10-14 age group had the highest incidence rate while the 60-74 age group continued to have an incidence rate that was around half that of the rest of the population. The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 dropped further to 34.1 years.

For the week of 1 to 7 February, 2,155 people were in isolation (up 18% over one week) and 4,295 were in quarantine (up 21%).

The family circle remained the most frequent context of transmission of COVID-19 infections (38.6%), followed by the educational environment (14%) and the workplace (4%). The source of infection was not clearly attributable in 32.5% of cases (up from 29.4%).

COVID-19 variants

Since the British variant B.1.1.7. began circulating in Luxembourg (19 December 2020), the National Health Laboratory (Laboratoire National de Santé - LNS) has sequenced a total of 860 samples, from which 114 cases have been detected. The South African variant SA (B.1.351), whose sequencing began on 11 January 2021, has been detected so far in fourteen individuals; the last sequencing dates to 30 January 2021. 

The health authorities recalled that these figures are not representative in nature. Some sequencing has been targeted. For example, among the 143 samples sequenced during the week beginning 25 January, more than 30% were sequenced at the request of the Health Inspectorate as part of Contact Tracing. There is also a delay of between seven and ten days in obtaining genotyping results, meaning that data is incomplete for the week of 1 to 7 February 2021.

The Directorate of Health and the LNS are in the process of implementing the means required to have a representative sampling of the general population based on samples from different regions and age categories with the help of medical analysis laboratories. The objective is to have a system for epidemiological monitoring of variants in real time by the end of February.

Vaccinations

For the week of 1 to 7 February, a total of 5,198 vaccine doses were administered in Luxembourg: 3,190 people received their first dose whilst the number of people who received their second dose increased significantly to 2,008 (compared to 439 the previous week).

Wastewater monitoring

The latest CORONASTEP report drawn up by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) indicated an average prevalence of the virus in wastewater at the national and regional level. A downward trend was observed last week across all the treatment plants analysed.