Bus drivers sew their own masks, Heritage Green outbreak ends, and area COVID-19 numbers

Until now, HSR drivers have bought, sewn or somehow created their own masks for work, but that will soon change.

Eric Tuck, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107, says a lot of Hamilton's bus drivers have made their own masks to wear on the job. Some have crafty friends and family able to work sewing machines. Tuck's daughter made two for him.

The ATU asked for N95s "some time ago," Tuck said. There was a shortage, and what supply did exist went to health-care workers. Now, he said, drivers are getting "the next one down, which is a washable, reusable mask." 

When the pandemic started, Tuck said, masks were a source of anxiety for his members. Now they're more laid back about it. The city has changed the rules so transit riders enter through the rear doors, and people with mobility devices take DARTS paratransit. Buses are limited to 10 riders on a regular-sized bus and 15 on an articulated one. 

That means there's always a nine-foot distance between driver and rider, Tuck said.

"As far as I'm concerned, we feel protected," he said. But he's still looking forward to seeing the prototype.

Heritage Green outbreak is over

The first long-term care home outbreak of COVID-19 in Hamilton is over.

Hamilton Public Health Services announced the first confirmed COVID-19 case at Heritage Green Nursing Home in Stoney Creek on March 18. Four residents have died.

Long-term care homes continue to struggle with the virus though. As of Tuesday, they account for 15 per cent of Hamilton's 421 COVID-19 cases, of which 416 are confirmed and five are probable.

Nineteen people have died, including two residents of Dundurn Place long-term care home this week. A 62-year-old man died on April 25 and an 81-year-old man died on April 26. 

Deaths at Hamilton long-term care homes are as follows:

• Cardinal: Seven deaths.
• Emmanuel House: Two deaths. 
• Dundurn Place: Two deaths. 
• Heritage Green: Four deaths. 

There are institutional outbreaks at Grace Villa (one staff member), the Barrett Centre for Crisis Support (one staff member), St. Joseph's Villa (one patient), St. Joseph's Healthcare's Charlton campus – 6 Mary Grace (six staff), St. Joseph's Healthcare Charlton campus – CTU Central Unit (two staff), the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre (one inmate), St. Joseph's Healthcare's West 5th campus (two staff), Dundurn Place Care Centre (two staff, six residents), St. Peter's Hospital (two patients, five staff), Good Shephard Men's Centre (one staff), Wesley Supportive Housing (four residents, four staff), Emmanuel House (three residents, six staff), and Cardinal Retirement Residence (47 residents, 18 staff).

At least 237 people have recovered

Of Hamilton's 421 COVID-19 cases, 237 have recovered, although given that some are asymptomatic and others stay home without being tested, that number is likely higher. 

A dozen more people have confirmed cases of COVID-19 Tuesday compared to Monday. 

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton's medical officer of health, said last week that Hamilton sees about 10 new cases per day, and that its case number doubles every 31 days. That means the city is on "the flat part of the curve."

The number of people hospitalized at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is steady at 12, and at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), 18 people are hospitalized. One person has been released from HHS since Monday. 

Here's what's happening in the surrounding area:

Brant

Two more people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 today in Brantford and Brant County. For the last couple of weeks, the area has reported between zero and three new cases a day.

The Brant County Health Unit is reporting 92 confirmed cases, of which 61 have recovered. That's up from 90 cases and 58 recoveries yesterday. The death toll remains at three. 

The health unit is reporting outbreaks at Telfer Place Long-Term Care in Paris (one resident) and St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre (one staff member). Both of those places had declared outbreaks earlier this month and recovered.

Five people have been hospitalized during the pandemic. 

Haldimand-Norfolk

The grieving at Hagersville's Anson Place Care Centre brought on by COVID-19 seems nearly over, but the debate over how the virus spread through Ontario's long-term care homes is just beginning.

The number of fatalities from COVID-19 at the care centre is still 27, with another resident possibly dying from the virus. Executive director Lisa Roth says she's still waiting for confirmation from the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. That means there have been no new deaths since last week. 

All told, 71 residents, or two-thirds of the people living at the 101-bed facility, were diagosed with COVID-19, along with 33 staff members. The care centre still has 28 confirmed cases in the long-term care home, and 17 in the retirement residence. 

All residents are being tested again, Roth said, including those who were positive before and now may be negative. 

The Ontario NDP, meanwhile, have cited the home as an example of why Ontario needs to rethink how it handles long-term care homes in a crisis. Leader Andrea Horwath, a Hamilton Centre MPP, said the new model should include taking over direct management of homes struggling to contain the virus.

Meanwhile, a class action lawsuit has been launched against Responsive Group Inc., which owns six homes with outbreaks, including Anson Place. The lead plaintiff is someone whose mother died at Anson Place. 

Overall, Haldimand and Norfolk counties have 188 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 36 have recovered and 30 have died. That's two more confirmed cases since Monday.

Meanwhile, residents and businesses of the two counties are donating money to buy iPads so people in long-term care homes can stay in touch with families. On Tuesday, Mayor Ken Hewitt of Haldimand and Mayor Kristal Chopp of Norfolk delivered the first 10 to Anson Place.

Halton

Halton has 16 more cases since Tuesday, or 507 (443 confirmed, 64 probable). That includes 104 cases in Burlington (89 confirmed, 15 probable), which is an increase of five from Tuesday. Seven people have died in Burlington, and 21 in Halton, including four people who were aged 40 to 59.

Niagara

Niagara has 472 confirmed cases, up 11 from Monday, which was an increase of 10 from the day before. That per-day number has been fairly consistent since last week. 

Of those 472 confirmed cases, 226 are active, 204 have recovered and 42 people have died. The latter number has remained steady for the last two days, although there were five new deaths on the weekend. 

Niagara has numerous institutional outbreaks. The most notable is Lundy Manor in Niagara Falls, where 18 residents have died. 

Lundy Manor is just one of six institutional outbreaks in Niagara. Two units of Niagara Health's St. Catharines hospital site have outbreaks. So do the following long-term care homes: Bethesda Home in Grimsby, Henley House in St. Catharines, and The Woodlands of Sunset, Royal Rose Place and Seasons Welland in Welland.