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 13 to 19 June 2022.

During the week in question, the number of Luxembourg residents testing positive for COVID-19 increased from 2,824 to 3,985 cases (up 41%).

The number of PCR tests carried out increased from 9,289 to 11,336 over one week.

52 people reported a positive rapid antigen test for the reference week, compared to 32 the week before, bringing the number of positive results following such tests carried out by a healthcare professional to a total of 3,111. Note that positive rapid antigen tests are not taken into account in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of Sunday 19 June 2022, the number of active infections increased to 7,039 from 4,991 the previous week and the number of people having recovered from the illness rose to 248,554 (from 246,619). The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 was 38.9 years old.

Two new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported during the week of 13 to 19 June. The age of the deceased was 51 years old.

In hospitals, there were fifteen new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients to normal care (up from six one week earlier). The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care increased to two. The average age of hospitalised patients stood at 51 years.

Positivity rate & incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) decreased to 1.19% (1.24% the previous week), and the positivity rate on all tests carried out increased from 30.40% to 35.15%.

The incidence rate increased to 617 cases per 100,000 residents over seven days, compared to 438 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 people aged 75 and over (up 73%). The lowest incidence rate was recorded among people aged 75 and over (454 cases per 100,000 residents), while the highest incidence rate was recorded among 30-44 year olds (958 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 5,204 resident cases recorded during the week of 13 to 19 June, only contacted cases (via telephone) have been reviewed and the source has been determined.

Among the 855 cases contacted during this period (on 13 and 19 June), the family circle was the most frequent source of transmission (33%), followed by education (11%), travel abroad (9%), work place (7%) and leisure activities (6%). The share of undetermined sources decreased to 28%.

Vaccinations: update

For the week of 13 to 19 June, 1,560 vaccine doses were administered: 74 people received a first dose, 95 received a second dose, 543 people received a first additional dose compared to a complete vaccination schedule, 847 received a complementary second dose and one received a third complementary dose, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of Monday 20 June 2022 to 1,284,554.

473,785 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 24 of 2022 showed a still high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater at the national level.

At national and regional level, the trend remained similar to previous week, with SARS-CoV-2 flows stabilising at a high level.