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 11 to 17 April 2022.
During the week in question, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 6,172 to 5,403 (down 12%). Among these new infections, the incidence rate was 1,076 per 100,000 unvaccinated people and 4,327 per 100,000 fully vaccinated people.
In hopsitals, there were 29 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, up from 28 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds decreased from four to three. The average age of hospitalised patients was 59 years.
The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 11 to 17 April 2022 decreased from 17,789 to 15,337. 125 people reported a positive rapid antigen test for the reference week, compared to 153 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 2,756. Note that positive rapid antigen tests are not taken into account in the calculation of the positivity rate.
As of 17 April 2022, the number of active COVID-19 infections decreased to 11,832 (from 14,550 on 10 April 2022) and the number of people having recovered from the illness rose to 218,078 (from 209,962). The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 was 41.8 years old.
Five new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported during the reference week. The average age of the deceased was 74 years old.
Positivity rate & incidence rate
During the week in question, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) increased to 0.93 (from 0.84 the previous week) and the positivity rate on all tests carried out increased from 34.70% to 35.23%.
The incidence rate decreased to 851 cases per 100,000 people over seven days, down from 972 cases per 100,000 people the previous week.
Reinfections as well as certified self-tests were included in the calculation of incidence rates. Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate decreased across all age groups. The greatest decrease was recorded among 0-14 year olds (down 24%), followed by 45-59 year olds (down 14%). The lowest incidence rate was recorded among 0-14 year olds (635 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) whilst the highest incidence rate was recorded among over 75 year olds (1,237 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 6,294 resident cases recorded during the week of 11 to 17 April 2022, only cases called and with a result date of 11 April have been reviewed and the source has been 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 674 case calls were reviewed and the source was determined.
The family circle was the most frequent source of infection (35%) followed by travel abroad (13%), the help and care sector (8%), leisure activities (7%) and the workplace (6%). The share of undetermined sources decreased to 25%.
Vaccinations: update
For the week of 11 to 17 April 2022, a total of 1,207 vaccine doses were administered. 86 people received a first dose, 176 received a second dose, 762 people received a first complementary dose (in addition to a full vaccinations schedule) and 183 received a second complementary dose, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 19 April 2022 to 1,278,410.
472,818 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).
