COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 11 - 17 July 2022

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has decreased from 5,616 to 4,830 cases (-14%) for the week of 11 to 17 July 2022.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 11 to 17 July has decreased from 14,294 to 13,168.

67 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 54 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 3,329. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

On 17 July, the number of active infections had decreased to 10,780 (compared to 11,665 on 10 July), while the number of people healed increased from 265,463 to 265,463. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 41.9 years.

For the week of 11 to 17 July, 6 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 81 years.

In the hospitals, there were 28 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 28 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds increased from 0 to 1. The average age of hospitalised patients is 58 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) decreased, with 0.83% compared to 0.99% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) decreased from 39.29% to 36.68%.

The 7-day incidence rate decreased to 748 per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 870 per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week.

Re-infections as well as certified self-tests were included in the calculation of incidence rates. Compared to the previous week, the incidence rate has decreased in all age groups. 0-14 years (-23%), 15-29 years (-15%), 30-44 years (-13%), 45-59 years (-17%), 60-74 years (-6%).

An increase was recorded in the age group 75+ years (+16%). The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 0-14 age group (751 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), while the highest incidence rate is recorded in the 30-44 age group with 1,318 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Contaminations

With the number of cases remaining high, it is difficult to identify, review and determine the likely source of infection, as well as the proportion of positive cases from residents who had travelled in the 14 days prior to the date of the result for the past week's cases.

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 11 to 17 July, a total of 6.515 doses were administered. 58 people received a 1st dose, 103 a 2nd dose, 634 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, 5,711 received a second complementary dose to a full vaccination and 9 received a third complementary dose to a full vaccination, bringing the total number of vaccines administered as of 17 July to 1,287,759.

474,194 people have a complete vaccination pattern, which corresponds to a vaccination rate of 78.9% 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.

Vaccinations in the "Impfbus" are done without prior appointment, which means that you have to wait for your turn, which can cause waiting times, especially during busy periods. In order to avoid long waiting times and for greater convenience, it is advisable to make an appointment at the vaccination centre, with a doctor or at a pharmacy.

Vaccination centre Hall Victor Hugo

A 4th dose of COVID-19 vaccine can now be given to people aged 60 years and over, as well as to people with a written recommendation from their doctor and a risk factor for severe COVID-19.

 On this occasion, the Victor Hugo vaccination centre will exceptionally reopen between 12 July and 13 August. People wishing to be vaccinated are also invited to take advantage of the vaccination facilities offered by town practices, pharmacies and the vaccination bus.

The list of all vaccination possibilities can be consulted on the following website:   covidvaccination.lu

The evolution of the variants

Variant sequencing data is 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 27th and 28th week of 2022 still shows a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at national level. Both nationally and regionally, the trend is similar to that of the previous weeks, but with a stabilisation of the SARS-CoV-2 flows observed at a high level, which confirms that the virus is still circulating strongly in the population. 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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