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 31 October to 6 December 2022.
During the week in question, the number of Luxembourg residents testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 1,560 to 873 (down 44%). There were an additional 444 reinfections, i.e. 33.7% of all people who tested positive compared to 688 (30.6%) the previous week.
The number of PCR tests carried out fell from 7,555 to 5,428 over one week.
27 people reported a positive rapid antigen test for the reference week, compared to 38 the week before, bringing the number of positive results following such tests carried out by a healthcare professional to a total of 3,709. Note that positive rapid antigen tests are not taken into account in the calculation of the positivity rate.
As of Sunday 6 December 2022, the number of active infections decreased to 2,936 from 4,428 the previous week and the number of people having recovered from the illness rose to 299,378 (up from 297,017). The average age of people diagnosed with COVID-19 was 47.3 years.
Four new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported during the week in question. The average age of the deceased was 82 years.
In hospitals, there were 22 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients to normal care (30 one week earlier). There was one patient in intensive care. The average age of hospitalised patients stood at 72 years.
Positivity rate & incidence rate
For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (RT eff) decreased to 0.72 (0.75 the previous week) and the positivity rate on all tests carried out fell from 20.65% to 16.08%.
Similarly, the incidence rate decreased to 135 cases per 100,000 residents over seven days, compared to 242 cases per 100,000 residents for the previous week. Adding reinfections, the incidence rate was 208 cases per 100,000 residents over seven days and 562 cases per 100,000 residents over fourteen days. Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate decreased across all age groups. The lowest incidence rate was recorded among children aged 0-4 (65 cases per 100,000 residents), while the highest incidence rate was recorded among people aged 90 and over (594 cases per 100,000 residents).
Vaccinations: update
For the week of 31 October to 6 December, 1,487 vaccine doses were administered: 25 people received a first dose, nineteen received a second dose, 107 received a first additional dose compared to a complete vaccination schedule, 1,288 received a second complementary dose and 48 received a third complementary dose, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of Tuesday 8 December 2022 to 1,291,774.
A total of 474,773 people have a complete vaccination schedule, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 79% of the eligible population (i.e. those aged five and over).
Contact tracing
In light of the new COVID-19 law, in force since 27 October 2022, contact tracing has ended. Individuals who have tested positive via a PCR test will receive an SMS from the Health Directorate from the following dispatch number (+352) 621 203 000. To receive an isolation order, complete the self-declaration form with the reference REFCP on the website www.covidtracing.lu.
As of 27 October, the isolation period has been reduced from seven to four days. This period may be shortened further in the event of two negative antigen self-tests carried out at least 24 hours apart. This applies to vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike.
