Luxembourg's Ministry of Health, together with the National Health Laboratory (Laboratoire National de Santé - LNS) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), has issued a COVID-19 retrospective for the week of 31 January to 6 February 2022.

During this period, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 14,918 to 11,003 cases (down 26%).

Among the 11,003 new infections, the incidence rate is 2,580 per 100,000 unvaccinated people and 1,389 per 100,000 people with a full vaccination schedule.

The number of PCR tests carried out decreased from 39,136 the week before to 32,224 last week.

151 people reported a positive rapid antigenic test for the reference week (down from 239 for the week before), bringing the total number of positive results from such tests performed by a healthcare professional to a total of 1,909. Note that positive rapid antigen tests are not taken into account in calculating the positivity rate.

As of 6 February 2022, the number of active infections stood at 26,212 (down from 30,772 as of 30 January 2022) and the number of people having recovered from the virus increased from 141,812 to 126,261. The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 is 29.6 years old.

Twelve new COVID-19-related deaths were reported last week. The average age of those who died is 81 years old.

In hospitals, the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care increased from 63 to 73 over one week. The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care increased from ten to eleven. The average age of hospitalised patients was 51.

Among the 73 hospitalised patients, 23 in normal care were not vaccinated against 50 patients who had a complete vaccination schedule, while eight out of eleven patients in intensive care were not vaccinated.

Positivity rate & incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) was down 0.72 compared to 0.89 the previous week, while the positivity rate on all the tests carried out (prescriptions, contact tracing) decreased from 38.11% to 34.15%.

The incidence rate decreased to 1,733 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, compared to 2,350 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the previous week.

Reinfections as well as certified self-tests in schools were included in the calculation of incidence rates. Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate decreased in all age groups. The lowest incidence rate is recorded among 75+ year olds (695 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) while the highest incidence rate is recorded among 0-14 year olds (4,082 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).

Quarantines & isolations

During the week, 35,102 people were in isolation (down 2%) and 6,142 in quarantine (down 40%).

Transmission

With the increase in the number of cases, it is difficult to determine all probable source of contamination of the week.

The family circle (40.1%) remains the most frequent source followed by work (4.7%), the aid and care sector 4.1%), leisure (2.9%) and travel abroad (2.7%). The rate of contaminations for which the source is not clearly attributable decreased to 39.9%.

Schools

During the week of 31 January to 6 February 2022, 31 classes spread over twelve primary schools and nine secondary schools were affected by a scenario 4 with more than five positive cases in the class.

Vaccinations update

For the week of 31 January to 6 February 2022, a total of 16,636 doses were administered. 969 people received a 1st dose, 3,074 a second and 11,824 people received an additional dose compared to a full schedule, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 9 February to 1,247,479.

463,481 people have a complete vaccination schedule, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 77% compared to the vaccinable population (therefore the 5 years or older population).

Fourth dose for highly vulnerable people

Anyone who is immunocompromised (organ transplant or hematopoietic stem cells, patients undergoing lymphopenic chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatments or carriers of a primary immune deficiency) or on dialysis, aged 18 and over, can obtain a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. This must be done at least three months after the last injection.

To get an appointment for a fourth dose, two possibilities are available:

  • The person can directly receive their fourth dose directly via their attending physician;
  • The person can make an appointment at a vaccination center. The doctor (treating doctor or a specialist) registers the person on Myguichet.lu as vulnerable, and the person will be contacted by the Vaccination Helpdesk to schedule an appointment at a vaccination centre.