Covid deaths reach 300, virus hits heaviest in Esch

Luxembourg reached the 300 mark for the number of fatalities linked to the pandemic, as the disease continues its spread through the country.

The country reported six more deaths on Friday, while the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus came in at 535 - still above the  threshold of 500 that the government wants to see new infections drop below before considering an easing of social hygiene measures.

Nearly half of all coronavirus cases in Luxembourg in the first three weeks of November were reported in Esch-sur-Alzette in the south of the country, according to the country’s health ministry.

Out of 11,390 new Covid-19 cases in the Grand Duchy between November 2 and 22, 4,980 were reported in Esch – 43% of all cases, and by far the highest out of any of the other 11 regions in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg City came in second place, reporting 1,825 new cases during the same time period, followed by the Luxembourg canton at 983.

Esch was also one of four cantons with more than 175 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people alongside Diekirch, Clervaux and Wiltz.

Luxembourg has been in a partial lockdown since Thursday, with cinemas, bars and restaurants closed to stem the spread of the coronavirus in Luxembourg. 

The country has the highest number of coronavirus cases in Europe at 1,186 per 100,000 people, followed by Austria at just under 1,100 and Slovenia at just under 1,000 according to the latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Origin of infection

The breakdown of COVID-19 cases detected in schools in Luxembourg in the week of November 16 to 22 shows that schools may be a major source of transmission, unlike what the government had claimed. 

The number of isolated cases stood at 479, and there had been 193 instances of two cases in one classroom. In 90 cases, there were three to five infections, while three schools had fallen into the heaviest so-called category 4 scenario, where infection chains occur across classrooms. 

An analysis of government figures requested by the Luxemburger Wort and d'Lëtzebuerger Land newspapers showed that there had been infection chains in 11 classes in the preceding weeks, despite frequent protestations by the government that schools were safe. 

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