New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 5 - 11 October

During the week of 5 to 11 October, the number of positive cases (806, +47%) and the number of their identified close contacts (6,868, +50%) increased significantly.

The incidence rate amounts to 129 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days, respectively 217 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 14 days.

The number of PCR tests carried out amounts to 39,651 compared to 38,735 the previous week.

As of 8 October, the number of active infections was 1.364 (compared to 1.006 as of 04.10) and the number of people healed went from 7,792 to 8,234. Hospital capacities were utilised more than in the previous week. Six new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported during the week of 5 to 11 October.

The effective reproduction rate (R) increased from 1.17 to 1.37 while the positivity rate on the tests carried out was 2.03% against 1.42% the previous week.

The average age of the cases decreased slightly to 36.8 years compared to 37.6 years previously. The evolution of the incidence rate shows a recent increase for all age groups. The 15-29 age group currently stands out as the most affected, with an incidence rate twice as high as the rest of the population. There is also a fairly large increase of the incidence rate among people aged 60-74 and 75 and over. Currently, the incidence rate is over 50 per 100,000 for all age groups.

Quarantine  and isolation

During the week of 5 to 11 October, 1,993 people were in quarantine (+33% compared to the previous week) and 1,125 people were in isolation (+3% compared to the previous week).

Percentage distribution of quarantines by age group

Contamination

For the week of 5 to 11 October, the most important source of contamination is once again the family environment, with 25% of cases. A certain increase in cases related to education with 12% of cases (7% last week) and leisure activities with 3% (1% last week) can be observed. Cases related to travels abroad continue to decline (from 13% to 7%).

In addition, 5% of the cases are related to the workplace (8% last week), 3% to the care and assistance sector (5% last week), 2% to shared housing (3% last week), 3% to parties with family or friends (2% last week). ​

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

The latest CORONASTEP report, issued by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), shows that the national level of SARS-CoV-2 contamination of the country's wastewater treatment plants was comparable to that of the previous week. For each of the wastewater treatment plants analysed, the general situation is very similar to that described last week. Specifically, the SARS-CoV-2 signal was present in eleven of the thirteen treatment plants analysed and not present in the other two. Of the eleven positive wastewater treatment plants, six had a level of contamination very close to the detection limit of the analytical test, while the others had a stable level of contamination compared to the previous week, with the highest values recorded in Schifflange and Beggen.

Press release by the Ministry of Health and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)