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 30 May to 5 June 2022.

During the week in question, the number of Luxembourg residents testing positive for COVID-19 increased from 1,174 to 1,934 cases (up 65%).

The number of PCR tests carried out increased from 6,302 to 8,209 over one week.

27 people reported a positive rapid antigen test for the reference week, compared to sixteen the week before, bringing the number of positive results following such tests carried out by a healthcare professional to a total of 3,024. Note that positive rapid antigen tests are not taken into account in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of Sunday 5 June 2022, the number of active infections increased to 3,345 from 3,314 the previous week and the number of people having recovered from the illness rose to 245,443 (from 243,543). The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 was 40.8 years old.

Three new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported during the week of 30 May to 5 June. The average age of the deceased was 86 years old.

In hospitals, there were three new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients to normal care (down from six one week earlier). The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care remained same at one. The average age of hospitalised patients stood at 60 years.

Positivity rate & incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) increased to 1.25 (0.79 the previous week), and the positivity rate on all tests carried out increased from 18.63% to 23.56%.

Similarly, the incidence rate increased to 300 cases per 100,000 residents over seven days, compared to 182 cases per 100,000 residents for the previous week.

Reinfections as well as certified self-tests were included in the calculation of incidence rates, which increased across all age groups. The largest increase was recorded among 0-14 year olds (up 120%). The lowest incidence rate was recorded among people aged 75 and over (200 cases per 100,000 residents), while the highest incidence rate was recorded among 30-44 year olds (505 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 2,436 resident cases recorded during the week of 30 May to 5 June, only contacted cases (via telephone) have been reviewed and the source has been determined.

Among the 2,109 cases contacted during this period, the family circle was the most frequent source of transmission (25%), followed by travel abroad (27%) and leisure activities (9%). The share of undetermined sources decreased to 25%.

Vaccinations: update

For the week of 30 May to 5 June, 1,895 vaccine doses were administered: 93 people received a first dose, 105 received a second dose, 527 people received a first additional dose compared to a complete vaccination schedule, 1,170 received a complementary second dose and two received a third complementary dose, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of Monday 6 June 2022 to 1,283,132.

473,588 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 continued 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 22 of 2022 showed a still high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater at the national level.

At national and regional levels, the trend in SARS-CoV-2 flows at the beginning of this week was similar to that of the previous week. However, a slight increase in the flow of SARS-CoV-2 was observed at the end of the week.