COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 16 - 22 May 2022

The number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has decreased from 2,704 to 1,879 cases (-30%) for the week of 16 to 22 May 2022.

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 16 to 22 May has decreased from 9,722 to 9,178.

20 people reported a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) for the reporting week, compared to 21 the previous week, bringing the number of positive results performed by a health-care worker to a total of 2,981. It should be noted that positive RATs are not included in the calculation of the positivity rate.

As of 22 May, the number of active infections has decreased to 4,846 compared to 6,244 on 15 May, while the number of people healed increased from 237,565 to 240,839. The average age of those diagnosed as positive for COVID-19 is 40.1 years.

For the week of 16 to 22 May, 3 new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported. The average age of the deceased is 82 years.

In the hospitals, there were 12 new admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients in normal care, compared to 13 the previous week. In intensive care, the number of occupied beds increased from 1 to 2. The average age of hospitalised patients is 61 years.

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) decreased, with 0.62% compared to 0.87% the previous week, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, contact tracing) decreased from 27.81% to 20.47%.

The 7-day incidence rate is 291 per 100,000 residents.

Re-infections as well as certified self-tests were included in the calculation of incidence rates. The incidence rate decreased in all age groups. ​ The largest decrease was recorded in the 0-14 age group (-47%), followed by the 30-44 age group (-31%). The lowest incidence rate is recorded in the 75+ age group (223 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), while the highest incidence rate is recorded in the 30-44 age group with 432 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 2,266 resident cases registered in the week of 16 to 22 May 2022, only 1,907 cases called were examined and the source was determined.

The family circle remains the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections (31%), followed by travel abroad (12%), leisure activities (7%), education (9%) and work (7%). The percentage of undetermined sources has slightly increased (28%).

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 16 to 22 May, a total of 2,704 doses were administered. 83 people received a 1st dose, 106 a 2nd dose, 576 people received one complementary dose to a full vaccination, 1,937 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 24 May to  1,281,267.

473,434 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.

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 20th week of 2022 still shows a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at national level.

the decrease in the flow of SARS-CoV-2, which was observed last week is confirmed, as well as on a national as a regional 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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