New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 1 - 7 March

During the week from 1 to 7 March, the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased from 1,315 to 1,194 (-9.1%), while the number of their identified close contacts also decreased from 3,101 cases the previous week to 2,847 (-9.2% ).

The number of PCR tests performed during the week of 1 to 7 March has decreased from 64,376 to 61,564.

As of 7 March, the number of active infections was 2,783 (compared to 2,908 on 28/02), while the number of people healed increased from 51,934 to 53,229. The average age of those diagnosed as COVID-19 positive increased to 39.3 years.

During the week in question, there were 24 new deaths related to COVID-19, compared to 12 the previous week. The average age of the deceased is 84 years.

In the hospitals, there was a clear increase in administrations, with 86 hospitalisations in normal care and 21 hospitalisations in intensive care of confirmed COVID patients for the week of 1 to 7 March, compared to 68, respectively 18, the previous week.

The two COVID-19 Consultation Centres (CCCs), located in Kirchberg and Esch-sur-Alzette, have recorded a total of 8,956 visits since their opening, including 457 visits for the week of 1 to 7 March, which is slightly higher than the previous week (401).

Positivity rate and incidence rate

For the reference period, the effective reproduction rate (R) slightly increased from 0.96% to 1.00%, while the positivity rate on all tests performed (prescriptions, Large Scale Testing, contact tracing) slightly decreased, with 1.94% compared to 2.04% 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, also decreased to 5.03%, compared to 5.42% the previous week.

The 7-day incidence rate is 191 per 100,000 residents. Note that for the week of February 22, the incidence rate was 210 cases per 100,000 residents over 7 days. Compared to the previous week, the age group 75 years or older recorded the highest increase (+46%). This increase is due to a large cluster in a senior citizens' home. The incidence rate remains stable for those aged 60-74 and dropped in all other age groups (-10% to -20%). The 75 age group now has the highest incidence rate whereas the 60-74 age group continues to have the lowest incidence rate.

Quarantine and isolation

For the week from 1 to 7 March, 2,703 people were in isolation (+2%) and 3,089 in quarantine (-3% compared to the previous week).

Contaminations

For the 1,194 new cases, the family circle remains by far the most frequent source of transmission of COVID-19 infections with 42.4%, followed by the help and care sector (6.4%), the work place (4.3%) and leisure activities (3.1%). The rate of contamination for which the source is not clearly attributable increased to 37.4%.

Vaccinations: update on the situation

For the week of 1 to 7 March, a total of 8,918 doses were administered. 5,493 people received a 1st dose and 3,425 received a 2nd dose.

The schedule of the amounts of doses to which Luxembourg is theoretically entitled according to the pro rata of 0.14% of the Luxembourg population, as provided for in the contracts already concluded by the Commission with the various manufacturers, as well as the amounts already delivered to the Grand Duchy to date and expected to be delivered by the end of March 2021, can be consulted in the attached weekly report (PDF).

To date, Luxembourg will therefore have enough vaccines to vaccinate 75,287 people by the end of March 2021. It should be noted, however, that the amount of doses is subject to adjustments from week to week, based on manufacturers' production capacities and deliveries.

The evolution of the variants

For the week of 22 to 28 February, the population sequencing coverage was 27%, well above the optimal rate of 10% recommended by ECDC in order to have an optimal representative sampling.

Regarding the representative sampling of 337 tests carried out for calendar week 8/2021, the following distribution of variants can be observed:

• The UK variant (B.1.1.7) represents 65% of the cases
• The South African variant SA (B.1.351) represents 16% of the cases
• One new case of the Brazilian variant (P.1 or P.2) was found

All information can be found in the ReViLux report on Respiratory Viruses Surveillance - Revilux - LNS.

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 level of contamination of the 13 treatment plants sampled during the week of 1 to 7 March still indicates a high prevalence of the virus in waste water at national level. A downward trend could again be observed during the week 9/2021. This trend will have to be confirmed by the analyses performed in the coming weeks.

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 Laboratoire national de santé (LNS) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)