COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 9 - 15 May 2022

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has decreased from 3,257 to 2,704 cases (-17%) for the week of 9 to 15 May 2022.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 9 to 15 May has decreased from 10,772 to 9,721.

21 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 47 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 2,961. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of 15 May, the number of active infections has decreased to 6,232 compared to 7,193 on 8 May, while the number of people healed increased from 233,915 to 237,577. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 37.3 years.

For the week of 9 to 15 May, 3 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 81 years.

In the hospitals, there were 13 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 16 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds increased from 0 to 1. The average age of hospitalised patients is 59 years. 

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) decreased, with 0.80% compared to 0.97% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) decreased from 30.27% to 27.82%.

The 7-day incidence rate decreased to 419 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 505 per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week.

Re-infections as well as certified self-tests were included in the calculation of incidence rates. The incidence rate has decreased in all age groups, except in the 15-29 age group (+0.3%). The largest decrease was recorded in the 75+ age group (-45%), followed by the 0-14 age group (-35%). The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 75+ age group (245 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), while the highest incidence rate is recorded in the 30-44 age group with 629 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 3,213 resident cases registered in the week of 9 to 15 May 2022, only 2,068 cases were examined and the source was determined.

The family circle remains the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections (35%), followed by education (10%), leisure activities (9%) and travel abroad (9%). The percentage of undetermined sources remains unchanged (26%).

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 9 to 15 May, a total of 2,475 doses were administered. 74 people received a 1st dose, 110 a 2nd dose, 508 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, 1,781 received a second complementary dose to a full vaccination and 2 received a third complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 17 May to 1,281,267.

473,329 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 78.7% of the eligible population (i.e. the 5+ population).

"Impf-Bus on tour"

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.

Temporary closure of the Hall Victor Hugo vaccination centre

The Hall Victor Hugo vaccination centre in Limpertsberg will remain closed on Ascension Thursday, 26 May 2022.

Details regarding opening hours can be found at www.covidvaccination.lu.  

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 nineteenth week of 2022 still shows a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at national level.

The fluxes of SARS-CoV-2 measured this week are decreasing compared to those observed last week. Similar downward trends were observed at the regional level for the different wastewater treatment plants analysed, except for Grevenmacher. 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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