New COVID-19 cases - Weekly review: 21 - 27 September

During the week of 21 to 27 September, the number of residents testing positive for COVID-19 decreased by 32%, with 460 people compared to 672 the previous week. This trend is also reflected by the number of contacts, with 4,670 contacts compared to 5,441 (-14%) contacts in the same period.

The number of PCR tests carried out on residents amounts to 36,818 compared to 40,638 the previous week.

As of 27 September, the number of active infections was 1,123 (compared to 953 as of 20.09.), while the number of people healed increased from 6,839 to 7,129. Hospital capacity was a little more strained than in the previous week and no new deaths related to COVID-19 are to be deplored.

The effective reproduction rate (R) fell from 1.47 to 0.61 while the positivity rate on the tests carried out was 1.25% (average of the week) against 1.65% the previous week.

The 7-day incidence rate is 73.47 per 100,000 residents.

During the week of 21 to 27 September, the average age of those diagnosed as COVID-19 positive increased further from 33.3 to 35 years.

Quarantine  and isolation

For the week of 21 to 27 September, 2,411 people were in quarantine (+6% compared to the previous week) and 1,095 in isolation (+42% compared to the previous week).

Distribution of quarantines by age group

   

0-14 years

15-29 years

30-44 years

45-59 years

60+ years

10.08.2020

16.08.2020

18%

27%

25%

22%

7%

17.08.2020

23.08.2020

17%

30%

25%

22%

6%

24.08.2020

30.08.2020

18%

30%

24%

21%

6%

31.08.2020

06.09.2020

19%

31%

24%

22%

5%

07.09.2020

13.09.2020

25%

25%

25%

20%

6%

14.09.2020

20.09.2020

30%

23%

23%

18%

6%

21.09.2020

27.09.2020

31%

24%

21%

18%

6%

Contamination

For the week of 21 to 27 September, the proportion of holiday-related cases continues to decline sharply from 30% the previous week to 14% and becomes the second leading cause of contamination identified. The most important cause of contamination is once again the family environment, with 31% of cases.

In addition, 7% of cases are related to the work environment, 6% to the aid and care sector, 3% to the education sector and 3% to organised leisure activities.

Waste water monitoring in Luxembourg as part of SARS-CoV-2

According to the latest CORONASTEP report, prepared by the LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), the level of SARS-COV-2 contamination in waste water is stable overall, with a slight increase however compared to the previous week. This is confirmed by the re-emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 in most of the water treatment plants analysed. Geographical differences persist with the same four treatment plants being strongly impacted by contamination. There is a significant increase of the SARS-CoV-2 signal in the wastewater of the Wiltz sewage treatment plant. The SARS-CoV-2 signal was not detectable at three of the thirteen wastewater treatment plants.

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

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