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 4 to 10 April 2022.
During the week in question, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 8,110 to 6,172 (down 24%). Among these new infections, the incidence rate was 1,283 per 100,000 unvaccinated people and 4,889 per 100,000 fully vaccinated people.
In hopsitals, there were 28 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, up from 24 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds increased from three to four. The average age of hospitalised patients was 59 years.
The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 4 to 10 April 2022 decreased from 22,274 to 17,789. 153 people reported a positive rapid antigen test for the reference week, compared to 86 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 2,631. Note that positive rapid antigen tests are not taken into account in the calculation of the positivity rate.
As of 10 April 2022, the number of active COVID-19 infections decreased to 14,573 (from 18,120 on 3 April 2022) and the number of people having recovered from the illness rose to 209,975 (from 200,229). The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 was 41.1 years old.
Nine new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported during the reference week. The average age of the deceased was 84 years old.
Positivity rate & incidence rate
During the week in question, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) increased to 0.83 (from 0.79 the previous week) and the positivity rate on all tests carried out fell from 36.41% to 34.70%.
The incidence rate decreased to 972 cases per 100,000 people over seven days, down from 1,278 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 57%), followed by 15-29 year olds (down 32%). For the week in question, certified self-tests in schools represented 0.1% of cases among 0-14 year olds and none of cases among 15-29 year olds. The lowest incidence rate was recorded among 0-14 year olds (835 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) whilst the highest incidence rate was recorded among 30-44 year olds (1,408 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 60 and over as well as the unvaccinated. Of the 7,187 resident cases registered in the week of 4 to 10 April, only cases with a result date of 4 April and 8 April were called. The cases were reviewed and the source was determined.
For the other days of the week, all cases for people aged 60 year or over as well as all residents and staff of nursing homes were reviewed. A total of 2,527 case calls were reviewed and the source was determined.
The family circle was the most frequent source of infection (31.1%) followed by leisure activities (7.0%), travel abroad (6.2%), the workplace (6.2%) and education (4.6%). The share of undetermined sources decreased to 25.6%.
Vaccinations: update
For the week of 4 to 10 April 2022, a total of 1,339 vaccine doses were administered. 112 people received a first dose, 252 received a second dose, 819 people received a first complementary dose (in addition to a full vaccinations schedule) and 156 received a second complementary dose, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 12 April 2022 to 1,277,243.
472,599 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 fourteenth week of 2022). The virus flows measured this week are similar to those observed last week. Similar trends were observed for the various wastewater treatment plants analysed, with stabilisation in wastewater contamination by SARS-CoV-2 at a high level reported.
