New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 7 - 13 December

During the week of 7 to 13 December, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has slightly decreased to 3,422 cases, compared to 3,797 cases during the previous week (-11%) and the number of identified contacts has also slightly decreased and is at 8,861 (-27%).

The average age of those diagnosed as COVID-19 positive decreased slightly from 40,2 to 39,3 years. ​

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 7 to 13 December was 70.300 compared to 69.959 for the previous week.

As of 13 December, the number of active infections was 8.123 (compared to 8.495 on 6.12), while the number of people healed increased from 29.615 to 33.367. During the week in question, there were 43 new deaths related to COVID-19, compared to 39 the previous week. Of the 43 deaths in the week of 7 December, 23 occured in hospitals, 19 in residential facilities for the elderly and 1 at home. The average age of the deceased is 83 years.

For the week of 7 to 13 December, 172 hospitalisations in normal care and 47 hospitalisations in intensive care of COVID-patients were confirmed, compared to 160 and 41 respectively the previous week. ​ It should be noted that the average length of stay in normal care is currently 10 days and the average length of stay in intensive care is 13 days. The transfer of patients from normal care to intensif care is therefore reflected with a certain delay in the numbers of persons in intensif care.

The effective reproduction rate (R) went from 1.03 to 0.87 while the positivity rate on the tests carried out was 4.87%, against 5.43% the previous week (average of the week).

The 7-day incidence rate is 546 per 100,000 residents. Note that for the week of 30 November, the incidence rate was 606 cases per 100.000 inhabitants over 7 days.

With the exception of the age group of 0-14 years, the incidence rate has slightly decreased in all other age groups during the last week, and consequently in the general population. The 75+ age group is the most affected, followed by the 15-29 age group. The incidence among the 60-74 age group remains a bit less high.

Quarantine  and isolation

For the week from 7 to 13 December, 7,418 people were in isolation and 9,813 in quarantine (-14% compared to the previous week).

Contamination

The rate of contamination for which the source is not clearly attributable remains high at 39,9%.  

According to the analysis carried out over two full days (7 and 8.12) and covering 1,118 cases, the family circle remains the most frequent source (36,9%) of COVID-19 infections.

Visits to the COVID-19-Consultation Centres

The two centres (CCC), in Kirchberg and Esch/Alzette, have registered a total of 4,205 visits since opening October 27 and November 18 respectively. In the week from 7 - 13 December 721 visits were registered.

Please note that the opening hours of the CCC as for the Large Scale Testing stations will change over the holidays. The opening hours can be viewed on www.covid19.lu.

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), indicates that during the week of 7 to 13 December, SARS CoV-2 flows in wastewater remain high. Nevertheless, the last samples have confirmed the decreasing trend observed the weeks before.

All CORONASTEP reports are available on the LIST website:  https://www.list.lu/en/covid-19/coronastep/.

 

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

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