The second holiday week counted 1,135 infections, a decrease of 11% compared to the first Christmas week. The number of identified contacts saw a -34% decline, from 3,207 to 2,106 cases. The average age of those infected was 38.4 years old.
These figures should be treated with caution, however, as the number of PCR tests dropped from 49,875 in the week prior to 33,948. As of 3 January there are 3,114 active infections (down from 4,995) and at least 43,364 are identified as ‘cured’.
Last week saw 22 deaths in line with Covid-19, compared to 36 in the previous week. The average age of the deceased is 85 years old.
For the week of 28 December to 3 January, 103 hospitalisations in normal care and 32 hospitalisations in intensive care were confirmed against 135, respectively 37 the previous week, allowing the return of phase 4 to phase 3 in hospitals. The effective reproduction rate (RT eff) however increased from 0.40 to 0.93%. The positivity rate on all the tests performed (ordinances, large scale testing) was 3.34% versus 2.54% the previous week (average per week). Notice that the positivity rate for the tests performed on prescription, therefore for persons presenting symptoms, is at 6.86%.
The incidence rate was 181 cases per 100,000 residents over 7 days, a slight decrease. The incidence rate continues to decrease in all other age groups, except for people aged 60-74 years and 15-29 years.
3,466 people were in isolation (-25%) and 2,440 in quarantine (-37% compared to the previous week).
Three cases of the British variant have now been detected in Luxembourg.
All passengers on flights from the United Kingdom have been systematically checked since 24 December. All travellers, with the exception of one person, have performed a test before their departure. All tests were negative.
As far as mental health is concerned, there is an increase in depression and also a tendency towards suicidal thoughts, which is rising above all among the elderly as well as the young. The professionals executing the contact tracing are therefore also guided on how to give advice to a person should such a case manifest itself.
Here we have an article outlining Luxembourg’s vaccination strategy.
Over one million people could get vaccinated, and sufficient doses have been purchased. The problem with slow-moving vaccination does not lie with the Commission’s purchase, however, but with slow production.
1,200 people have been vaccinated in this country so far. The second jab is expected on 20 January. The vaccination campaign will continue on 21 January, depending on the deliveries of the recently approved Moderna vaccine.
As of Wednesday, 6,200 residents of nursing homes are to be vaccinated. This should take place with mobile health teams.
