COVID-11 cases - Weekly review: 11 - 17 April 2022

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has decreased from 6,172 to 5,403 cases (-12%) for the week of 11 to 17 April 2022.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 11 to 17 April has decreased from 17,789 to 15,337.

125 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 153 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 2,756. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of 17 April, the number of active infections has decreased to 11,832 compared to 14,550 on 10 April, while the number of people healed increased from 209,962 to 218,078. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 41.8 years.

For the week of 11 to 17 April, 5 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 74 years.

In the hospitals, there were 29 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 28 the previous week. The number of occupied beds in the intensive care unit decreased from 4 to 3. The average age of hospitalised patients is 59 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) increased, with 0.93% compared to 0.84% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) increased from 34.70% to 35.23%.

The 7-day incidence rate decreased to 851 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 972 per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week.

Re-infections as well as certified self-tests in schools were included in the calculation of incidence rates. Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate has decreased in all age groups.

The largest decrease was recorded in the 0-14 age group (-24%), followed by the 45-59 age group (-14%). It should be noted that during the week of 11.04 to 17.04, there were no certified self-tests in schools. The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 0-14 age group (635 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), while the highest incidence rate is recorded in the 75+ age group with 1,237 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Contaminations

As the number of new infections remains high, the identification of sources is currently not possible for all cases. Among the 6,294 resident cases registered in the week of 11 to 17 April 2022, only cases called and with a result date of 11.04 were examined and the source was determined.

For the other days of the week it was decided to review all the 60+ cases as well as all the residents and staff of the care facilities. The 674 cases called on 11.04 were used for the case source descriptions.

The family circle remains the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections with 35%, followed by travel abroad (13%), the care sector (8%), leisure activities (7%) and work (6%). The percentage of undetermined sources has decreased (25%).

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 11 to 17 April, a total of 1,207 doses were administered. 86 people received a 1st dose, 176 a 2nd dose, 762 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, and 183 received a second complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 19 April to 1,278,410.

472,818 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 78.6% of the eligible population (i.e. the 5+ population).

COVID-19 vaccination: 4th dose recommended for people aged 80 and over

Following the recommendations of the High Council for Infectious Diseases (CSMI) and in agreement with the EMA and ECDC, a 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to persons aged 80 years and over. The 4th dose is administered at an interval of at least 4 months after the booster dose. The vaccine product used for the 4th dose is an mRNA vaccine. This booster dose is intended to maintain a high level of vaccine protection for the individuals concerned to prevent infection, severe forms of the disease and death.

It shall be reminded that immunocompromised persons (organ or haematopoietic stem cell transplants, patients undergoing lymphopenic chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy, or those with primary immune deficiency) and patients on dialysis aged 18 years and over can get a 4th dose of vaccine. This should be done at the earliest 3 months after the last injection.

Booking an appointment

The people concerned will receive an invitation for vaccination from the Luxembourg Government by post, with detailed instructions on how to book an appointment at the vaccination centre Victor Hugo, with their physician or at a pharmacy.

The list of physicians and pharmacies participating in the vaccination campaign is available at covidvaccination.lu.

Personalised assistance is also offered through a hotline specifically set up for this purpose under the number (+352) 247-65533.

Closure of some vaccination spots since 16 April 2022

Vaccination centres Esch-Belval and Ettelbruck

  • The vaccination centres of Esch-Belval and Ettelbruck have been closed since Saturday 16 April.

"Pop Up" Vaccination:

  • Pop-ups in shopping centres have been closed since Saturday 16 April
  • The Pop-up Central station Luxembourg closed its doors on Friday 15 April.

The list of vaccination centres, physicians and pharmacies participating in the vaccination campaign is available at covidvaccination.lu.

"Impf-Bus on tour" 

The closure of the Pop-ups is complemented by the reintroduction of the vaccination bus, which will serve, among others, shopping centre car parks, commercial zones and various events, starting next Tuesday.

The next stops of the "Impf-Bus on tour" will also be announced on www.covidvaccination.lu

Please note that the vaccination can be done without appointment (identity card and CNS card required). The type of vaccination offered is  the initial vaccination and the booster dose.

The evolution of the variants

Variant sequencing data are published every Friday on the website of the National Health Laboratory (Laboratoire national de Santé, LNS) https://lns.lu/en/publications-en/.

Wastewater monitoring in Luxembourg as part of SARS-CoV-2

According to the latest CORONASTEP report drawn up by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), the contamination level of the 13 wastewater treatment plants analysed during the fifteenth week of 2022 still shows a very high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at national level. The SARS-CoV-2 levels measured this week are very similar to those observed last week. Similar trends were observed for the different wastewater treatment plants analysed, with a stabilisation of wastewater contamination in SARS-CoV-2 at a high level.

All CORONASTEP reports are available on the LIST website: https://www.list.lu/en/covid-19/coronastep/.

 

Press release by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth, the National Health Laboratory (LNS) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) 

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