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 published a COVID-19 report for the week of 23 to 29 May 2022.

During the week in question, the number of Luxembourg residents testing positive for COVID-19 continued to decrease, from 1,879 to 1,174 cases (down 36%).

The number of PCR tests carried fell from 9,178 to 6,301.

Sixteen people reported a positive rapid antigen test for the reference week, compared to 20 the week before, bringing the number of positive results following such tests carried out by a healthcare professional to a total of 2,997. Note that positive rapid antigen tests are not taken into account in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of Sunday 29 May 2022, the number of active infections decreased to 3,302 from 4,849 the previous week and the number of people having recovered from the illness rose to 243,555 (from 240,836). The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 was 42.4 years old.

Two new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported during the week of 23 to 29 May. The average age of the deceased was 63 years old.

In hospitals, there were six new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients to normal care (down from twelve one week earlier). The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care fell from two to one. The average age of hospitalised patients was 63 years old.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) increased to 0.79 (0.65 the previous week), whilst the positivity rate on all tests carried out fell from 20.47% to 18.63%.

The incidence rate remained unchanged at 182 cases per 100,000 residents over seven days.

Reinfections as well as certified self-tests were included in the calculation of incidence rates, which decreased across all age groups. The greatest decrease was recorded among 0-14 year olds (down 55%), followed by 15-29 year olds (down 43%). The lowest incidence rate was recorded among 60-74 year olds (180 cases per 100,000 residents), while the highest incidence rate was recorded among 30-44 year olds (282 cases per 100,000 residents).

Transmission

With the number of cases remaining high, the authorities have found it difficult to contact all the infected individuals during the week in question and therefore to determine the probable source of contamination. Of the 1,416 resident cases recorded the week of 23 to 29 May, only contacted cases (via telephone) have been reviewed and the source has been determined.

Among the 1,271 cases (89.8%) contacted during this period, the family circle remained the most frequent source of transmission (28%), followed by travel abroad (17%), work (10%), leisure (7%) and education (6%). The share of undetermined sources decreased slightly to 26%.

Vaccinations: update

For the week of 23 to 29 May, 1,721 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered: 67 people received a first dose, 69 received a second dose, 424 people received a first additional dose compared to a complete vaccination schedule, 1,159 received a second additional dose and two received a third additional dose, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 31 May 2022 to 1,282,424.

473,487 people have a complete vaccination schedule, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 78.8% of the eligible population (i.e. those aged five and over).

"Impf-Bus on tour" vaccination buses continue to offer their services, with full details on www.impfen.lu 

Wastewater monitoring 

According to the latest CORONASTEP report published by LIST, the level of contamination of the thirteen wastewater treatment plants analysed during week 21 of 2022 showed a still high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater, even if the downward trend in SARS-CoV-2 flows observed in the past weeks was confirmed, both at national and regional level.