The Alpha (B.1.1.7 or UK) variant which had previously been the leading variant among the cases detected in the grand duchy is on the decline representing 47,4 % of the cases detected last week compared to 76% of cases about two weeks ago.
On the contrary, even as the number of infections in the grand duchy diminished for the 11th consecutive week, the Delta variant, first identified in India, has been on the rise. It accounted for only 3.9% of cases between 17 to 23 May, when it was first listed in a weekly government update, and its now responsible for 30,9% of cases.
The trend has also been observed in the United States among the unvaccinated category where the variant has been spreading rapidly similar to the transmissibility ratio observed in the UK, according to the Guardian. The World Health Organization on 10 May listed the Delta variant as a "variant of concern”.
Against the backdrop of the EU’s recent agreement to lift entry restrictions from eight countries into the European Union, these variants may be consequential to the decision of member states who are to decide on the need for additional requirement such as a negative COVID result or mandatory quarantine on arrival.
Luxembourg currently requires arrivals from India and the UK to test upon arrival, quarantine and take a second test six days into quarantine.
In comparison to other variants, new cases of the Beta variant (first observed in South Africa) and the Gamma variant (first observed in Brazil) are less prominent and they both represent less than 6% combined, beta (3,1%) and gamma (2,1%) in the last report for the week between 7 to 13 June.