New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 12 - 18 October. The Ministry of Health calls for increased vigilance

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 is up sharply (59%) with 1,280 cases for the week of 12 to 18 October, compared to 805 cases for the previous week. ​ The number of contacts also reached a very high level with 7,924 contacts compared to the 6,780 contacts previously identified (+17%).

The number of PCR tests carried out amounts to 47,610 compared to 39,880 the previous week.

As of 18 October, the number of active infections was 2,405 (compared to 1,364 on 11/10), while the number of people healed increased from 8,234 to 8,471. Hospital capacities were utilised more than in the previous week, without the hospitals being under strain. Two new deaths in connection with COVID-19 are to be deplored.

In order to align with the international methodology, only beds occupied by patients with a confirmed COVID-19-infection will be reported in the daily and weekly reports, starting today, 21 October.

The effective reproduction rate (R) fell slightly from 1,32 to 1,20 while the positivity rate on the tests carried out was 2,69% against 2,02% the previous week (average of the week).

The 7-day incidence rate is 205 per 100,000 residents, respectively 333 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days.

During the week of 12 to 18 October the average age of those diagnosed as COVID-19 positive increased slightly to 38,8 years.

The evolution of the incidence rate over the last 8 weeks shows a recent increase in all age groups. The 15-29 age group still stands out as the most affected, followed by the 30-59 age group, which saw the biggest increase last week. The incidence among young people from 0-14 is the lowest. There has also been a sharp increase in the number of people aged 75+ years.

Call for increased vigilance:

The Ministry of Health draws attention to the worsening situation within the EU, including in some of our neighbouring countries. In all Member States there is a significant increase in new infections, also among people aged 65 and over, who are particularly vulnerable to the virus. The same trend can be observed in a large number of Member States in terms of the positivity rate and the mortality rate, which has increased in the last month or so in the Union. On the other hand, the number of hospital admissions related to COVID-19 has increased significantly in 20 Member States.

The evolution of the COVID epidemic is also worrying as far as Luxembourg is concerned. The virus now circulates diffusely among our population; the risk of becoming infected increases considerably, as does the impact on the capacity of our health system.

"The coming days and weeks will be decisive if we want to act collectively on the trajectory of the virus. It is therefore more important than ever for everyone to be more vigilant and responsible". underlines the Minister of Health, Paulette Lenert.

Thus, in addition to the barrier gestures that have been in place since the beginning of the health crisis, we can all contribute to the national effort to stem the spread of the virus by limiting our contacts, avoiding non-essential activities and travel, wearing masks and protecting vulnerable people. ​

By launching this appeal, the government is echoing the plea of the Director-General of the World Health Organization during the last press briefing on 19 October. ​

The Ministry of Health also points out that people who have tested COVID-19 positive and who have not yet been contacted by the Contact Tracing-team are invited to self-isolate. Likewise, people who have been in contact with people testing positive should put themselves in a self-quarantine while waiting to be called by Tracing-team. The rules to be respected during self-isolation and during the self-quarantine can be consulted on the site www.covid19.lu

Quarantine  and isolation

For the week of 12 to 18 October, 3,124 people were in quarantine (+51% compared to the previous week) and 1,677 in isolation (+49% compared to the previous week).

 

Distribution of quarantines by age group

   

0-14 years

15-29 years

30-44 years

45-59 years

60+ years

17/08/2020

23/08/2020

19%

29%

24%

22%

6%

24/08/2020

30/08/2020

19%

30%

22%

22%

7%

31/08/2020

06/09/2020

19%

31%

23%

21%

5%

07/09/2020

13/09/2020

24%

24%

24%

20%

7%

14/09/2020

20/09/2020

30%

23%

23%

18%

6%

21/09/2020

27/09/2020

30%

25%

21%

18%

6%

28/09/2020

04/10/2020

23%

30%

20%

20%

7%

05/10/2020

11/10/2020

26%

29%

18%

20%

7%

12/10/2020

18/10/2020

23%

30%

18%

22%

7%

 

Contamination

Among the attributable causes of contamination, the family environment remains the most frequent source, increasing from 25,3 to 31,1%, while cases related to education and travel are decreasing. ​ The school environment is closely monitored by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth jointly, making it possible to quickly identify likely causes. ​ Cases without a definite source are up sharply with 43,2% against 36,6% the previous week.

Concerning the number of pupils and teachers testing positive for COVID-19 who attend schools in Luxembourg, the evolution of the situation between 10.10.2020 and 16.10.2020 is as follows:

  • During the period indicated, no new chains of infection were found in schools and lycées in Luxembourg.

In view of the significant increase in the figures, the Ministry of National Education, Children and Youth would like to point out that currently only one case of "scenario 3", involving 5 adults and 2 children, is being analysed for the reference period from 17.10 to 23.10. In this context, the Ministry would like to re-emphasise the importance of barrier gestures in contacts between adults. (Scenario 3: chain of infection with several cases linked to an in-school infection).

  • 43 cases corresponding to "Scenario 2" were found in public and private schools and colleges (Scenario 2: maximum 2 positive cases in a class with an uncertain or likely out-of-class source of infection).
  • 112 positive cases corresponding to "Scenario 1" were counted in public and private schools and secondary schools. This increase reflects the recent rise in the number of positive cases in the country. Current figures show that adolescents are more strongly affected by COVID-19 infections than children and that these infections occur in the majority of cases outside of school. (Scenario 1: children and young people infected outside school without the virus having spread in school).
  • The absence of cases in "Scenario 3" and the limited number of cases in "Scenario 2" show that the sanitary measures in place are effective in limiting the spread of the virus in schools.

Waste water monitoring in Luxembourg as part of SARS-CoV-2

The latest CORONASTEP report drawn up by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology) shows that the national level of SARS-CoV-2 contamination increased very significantly in the country's wastewater treatment plants during the week of 12 to 18 October.

Wastewater contamination exceeded the levels observed in March 2020, during the first wave.

The evolution of contamination in wastewater continues to be closely correlated with the increase in cases measured by direct testing in the population. The increase in daily flows of SARS-CoV-2 was observed at all monitored wastewater treatment plants.

 

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

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