New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 4 - 10 January

During the week from 4 to 10 January, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 1.135 to 1.036 (-9%), while the number of their identified close contacts increased from 2,106 to 3,496 (+66%) the previous week.

These numbers confirm the downward trend in the number of new infections, especially as the number of PCR tests carried out during the week of 4 to 10 January almost doubled compared to the previous week, with 63,188 tests compared to 33,949.

As of 10 January, the number of active infections was 2,660 (compared to 3,222 on 23.01), while the number of people healed increased from 43,261 to 44,833. However, the number of new deaths related to COVID-19 increased to 26 from 22 the previous week. The average age of the deceased is 81 years.

The average age of those diagnosed as COVID-19 positive remained stable at 38.4 years.

In the hospitals, the situation continued to relax, with 76 hospitalisations in normal care and 25 hospitalisations in intensive care of confirmed COVID patients for the week of 4 to 10 January, compared to 103, respectively 32, the previous week.

The two Consultation Centres (CCC), located in Luxembourg-Kirchberg and Esch/Alzette, registred a total of 5.932 visits of which 269 were counted in the week from 4 to 10 January, compared to 411 the previous week.

Decrease in the positivity rate and incidence rate

The effective reproduction rate (R) increased slightly from 0.92 to 1.06%. The positivity rate on all the tests carried out (prescriptions, Large Scale Testing) was 1.64% compared to 3.34% the previous week (average over the week). It should be noted that the positivity rate for tests carried out on prescription, i.e. for people with symptoms, is 5.67%, compared to 6.86% the previous week.

The 7-day incidence rate is 165 per 100,000 residents. Note that for the week of 28 December, the incidence rate was 181 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over 7 days.

The incidence rate continues to decline slightly in all age groups except for children aged 0-14 years. ​ The increase in the incidence rate among children can be explained by the increase in the number of tests carried out before school resumed on 11.01.2021 as part of a special initiative of the Large Scale Testing campaign. The 60-74 age group remains the age group with the lowest incidence rate with 92 cases per 100,000 people.

Summary of the serological tests (16.11.2020 – 05.01.2021)

For the serological tests carried out as part of the Large Scale Testing between 16 November and 5 January, 24,000 invitations were sent out. Of the 3,416 tests carried out, 235 were positive. Thus, antibodies were detected in 6.88% of people sampled.

Quarantine and isolation

For the week from 4 to 10 January, 2,279 people were in isolation (-33%) and 2,283 in quarantine (-7% compared to the previous week).

Contamination

Following the decrease in the number of reported cases, the analysis of the sources of contamination could be carried out again over the entire week. For the 1,036 new cases, the family circle remains by far the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections with 45.3%. 11% are attributable to returns from a vacation or a holiday context.

The rate of contamination for which the source is not clearly attributable increased to 31.9%.

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 4 to 10 January, 450 people were vaccinated, bringing the total number of people vaccinated to 1,701, on 10 January. As of 13 January, 2,372 people have been vaccinated.

It should be noted that on 11 January, Luxembourg received 2 new deliveries containing 1,200 doses of Moderna vaccine and 4,875 doses of BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna vaccine will be administered as of next week (18.01.) in the Hall Victor Hugo vaccination centre.

Of the total deliveries received since 26 December (15,825 doses of vaccine), the theoretical stock on 13 January will make it possible to vaccinate 7,912 people. However, this stock is partly used or fully booked up:

  1. Vaccinations Hall Victor Hugo: 1,487 people
    Remaining virtual stock: 7,912 - 1,487 = 6,425 people
  2. Mobile teams: 1,462 people are being vaccinated (last night: 933)
    Remaining virtual stock: 6,425 - 1,462 = 4,963 people
  3. Hospitals: yesterday 1,950 vaccines were delivered to hospitals
    Remaining virtual stock: 4,963 - 1,950 = 3,013 people

Thus, the current stock of vaccines makes it possible to vaccinate 3,013 people. To this end, 3,720 invitations were sent out to health professionals in the out-of-hospital sector (aid and care networks, private doctors, ambulance drivers, etc.), based on an estimated 75-80% take-up rate.

It should be noted that due to a technical error in the selection of persons to be invited for vaccination, 93 invitations were sent to sectors that were not part of the first vaccination round under consideration. The reservation code was immediately deactivated and the people concerned will be informed as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Health welcomes the submission of AstraZeneca's marketing authorisation application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), whose decision is expected on 29 January.

In addition, according to the EMA's notice published on 12 January, from next week onwards Luxembourg will be able to extract 6 doses per vial of BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine instead of 5 doses.

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 4 to 10 January, SARS CoV-2 flows in wastewater remain high, although a slow downward trend could be observed for almost all the treatment plants studied individually.

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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