However, it is worth noting that the most recent analysis conducted by the National Public Health Laboratory (LNS) date back to 18 December. An updated version of the results is expected by the end of this week, taking samples from the past week into account.
Each week the laboratory analyses between 300 and 400 samples, correlating to around 10% of all positive cases in Luxembourg.
Around 13 variants of the virus are currently circulating in the Grand Duchy, with 3 dominant strains. Dr Tamir Abdelrahman, director of microbiology at the LNS, said it was too early to forecast the impact of the new British variant.
The necessary clinical reports are not yet available to determine the virulence of this strain. According to Dr Abdelrahman, this process could take several months.
He added it was too early to predict whether the vaccines would prove effective against the new strain, as this would also require a number of studies.
The necessary observations would be made with regard to vaccinated people, he said, to check the effect of the new virus strain on their immunity.
