Omicron accounts for almost 90% of cases in Luxembourg
If the Ministry of Health announced on January 10 that the Omicron variant had become the majority in Luxembourg, the National Health Laboratory provided some details on Wednesday.
The figures speak for themselves and bear witness to the Omicron tsunami. During the first week of January 2022, almost 90% of the cases recorded in Luxembourg were due to the Omicron variant. “89.6% of specimens collected at the national level” exactly, specifies the National Health Laboratory (LNS).
No wonder if we compare the Grand Duchy to its neighbours: all of Europe finds itself overwhelmed by this variant coming straight from South Africa. The number of cases is also exploding everywhere: more than 2,500 cases have been reported in the last 24 hours in Luxembourg, unheard of since the start of the epidemic.
“The new variant of Omicron has experienced rapid growth since its emergence and the ability to replace previously circulating variants,” explains the LNS.
Figures which can be frightening, but which the Laboratory wishes to qualify, since “hospitalization and mortality rates are not increasing proportionally”. We therefore have more cases, but no more hospitalizations or deaths: we remain “on average below the maximums of 2020 and 2021”, supports the LNS.
On the other hand, like the number of cases, the incidence rates are also exploding. It is around 2,600 in Luxembourg and has exceeded 4,000 in France, Denmark and Ireland, a record.
Vaccines also affected
In any case, this variant spares no one: the LNS specifies that fully vaccinated people can also be infected with Omicron, but that their vaccine protection allows them to avoid serious forms and death.
Finally, the Luxembourg Laboratory ensures that PCR screening combined with whole genome sequencing remains the best strategy for monitoring the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic.
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