Luxembourg's Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth, together with the National Health Laboratory (Laboratoire National de Santé - LNS) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), have issued a COVID-19 report for the period from 28 March to 3 April 2022.
During the week in question, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 9,550 to 8,110 (down 15%). Among these new infections, the incidence rate was 1,111.0 per 100,000 unvaccinated people and 1,340.5 per 100,000 fully vaccinated people.
In hopsitals, there were 24 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, down from 32 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds decreased from four to three. The average age of hospitalised patients was 55 years. Five out of 24 COVID-19 patients hospitalised in normal care were not vaccinated (nineteen patients were fully vaccinated), whilst two out of three patients in intensive care were not vaccinated. The incidence rate calculated on 100,000 hospitalised people (aged five and over) with a complete vaccination schedule was 4.14 in normal care and 0.22 in intensive care. The incidence rate calculated on 100,000 non-vaccinated hospitalised people (aged five and over) was 3.50 in normal care and 1.40 in intensive care.
The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 28 March to 3 April 2022 decreased from 24,609 to 22,273. 86 people reported a positive rapid antigen test for the reference week, compared to 95 during the previous week, bringing the number of positive results following a certified rapid antigen test (carried out by a healthcare professional) to a total of 2,478. Note that positive rapid antigen tests are not taken into account in the calculation of the positivity rate.
As of 3 April 2022, the number of active COVID-19 infections increased to 18,113 (from 17,545 on 27 March 2022) and the number of people having recovered from the illness rose to 200,236 (from 192,702). The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 was 37.7 years old.
Eight new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported during the reference week. The average age of the deceased was 81 years old.
Positivity rate & incidence rate
During the week in question, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) decreased to 0.77 (from 1.20 the previous week) and the positivity rate on all tests carried out fell from 38.81% to 36.41%.
The incidence rate decreased to 1,278 cases per 100,000 people over seven days, down from 1,505 cases per 100,000 people 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 increased across all age groups. The greatest decrease was recorded among 0-14 year olds (down 22%), followed by 15-29 year olds (down 21%). For the week in question, certified self-tests in schools represented 31% of cases among 0-14 year olds and 11% of cases among 15-29 year olds. The lowest incidence rate was recorded among 60-74 year olds (900 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) whilst the highest incidence rate was recorded among 0-14 year olds (1,958 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).
Transmission
With the number of cases remaining high, it is difficult to follow up every case and to determine the probable source of infection. As such, the authorities have decided to focus on those aged 50 and over as well as the unvaccinated. The authorities did not follow up on cases resulting from positive self-tests in schools have not been called nor did they call those having reported a positive self-test result at home and who have requested a PCR test. Among the 8,110 resident cases recorded during the week in question, 1,742 cases were reviewed and the source determined.
The family circle was the most frequent source of infection (31.1%) followed by leisure activities (7.9%), travel abroad (5.2%), education (4.9%) and the workplace (2.9%). The share of undetermined sources increased to 30.3%.
Vaccinations: update
For the week of 28 March to 3 April 2022, a total of 1,664 vaccine doses were administered. 97 people received a first dose, 431 received a second dose, 935 people received a first complementary dose (in addition to a full vaccinations schedule) and 201 received a second complementary dose, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 5 April 2022 to 1,276,078.
472,346 people have been fully vaccinated, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 78.6% of the eligible population (i.e. those aged five and over).
To further encourgae vaccination against COVID-19, the Luxembourg Government continues to facilitate access to vaccination by deploying temporary, "pop-up" vaccination centres and mobile teams will be present in pedestrian zones, shopping centres and events organised by certain municipalities, among other public places.
Wastewater monitoring
The latest CORONASTEP report drawn up by LIST showed a still very high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater nationwide (across the thirteen wastewater treatment plants analysed during the thirteenth week of 2022). The virus flows measured this week are increasing compared to those observed last week. Similar trends were observed for the various wastewater treatment plants analysed, with significant increases reported at the Beggen, Schifflange, Pétange, Mersch and Troisvierges treatment plants.
