Hamiltonians should wait 'a little bit longer' before seeing friends and relatives

Hamilton residents should wait "a little bit longer" before seeing friends and relatives who don't live with them, says the city's medical officer of health.

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson says as services slowly reopen in light of COVID-19, people are starting to "gradually think about" how to resume their social lives and still stay physically distant. Until the province gives the go-ahead, people should still rely on the internet and window visits to reach out to people outside their households. 

"We just need to be patient a little bit longer," Richardson said Monday during a media briefing. 

Richardson's comments echoed those of Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health. They also came after Premier Doug Ford said he'd invited two daughters who don't live with him over for a six-person Mother's Day gathering.

Williams and other medical officers of health have warned people not to visit yet, and gatherings of more than five people can still bring a $750 fine under the province's Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. 

Premier Ford says he had his daughters over to visit recently

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Ontario Premier Doug Ford said two of his daughters, who don't live with him, came to visit recently. "Use your best judgment," he said about visiting family and elderly parents. "I'd keep with the immediate family."

Williams advised people to maintain a physical distance from people outside your immediate household. "At this point, our messaging is still the same and we're asking people to hold the fort for now."

Richardson advised people to visit relatives on Mother's Day either online or through windows.

Hamilton has six new cases of COVID-19 Monday for a total of 494 (489 confirmed, five probable). Twenty-four people have died and 350 have recovered. 

That's one more death than was reported Sunday. Richardson said an 82-year-old man at Cardinal Retirement Residence has died. 

There are outbreaks declared at Blackadar Continuing Care Centre (one case), the Rosslyn (two cases), Idlewyld Mannor (one), Regina Gardens (two), Wentworth Lodge (none), a Mission Services women's shelter (one), Heritage Green (none), St. Elizabeth's Villa (two), and Dundurn Place Care Centre (13).

Brant

Brant County has extended the relief of late payments on accounts receivable, property taxes and water and waste water until Sept. 30. Anyone who wants more information can email tax@brant.ca. The county also says yard sales are banned, and residents can apply for open-air burning permits again. 

The Brant County Health Unit, which includes Brantford, reports 102 cases Monday, of which 85 have recovered, six are hospitalized and three have died. That's the same number as Sunday. 

There are outbreaks at Telfer Place in Paris (one resident), and Brierwood Gardens (one worker) and St. Joseph's Lifecare Centre (two workers) in Brantford.

Haldimand-Norfolk

After five days of no new cases last week, the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit reports 201 cases on Monday, of which 75 have recovered and 30 have died. 

That's up from 199 lab-confirmed cases on Sunday. 

Halton

Halton has 582 cases (515 confirmed, 67 probable), up one from the day before, and 446 people have recovered. Twenty-three people have died. 

Burlington has 111 cases (96 confirmed, 15 probable), of which 89 have recovered and seven have died. There are no institutional outbreaks in Burlington.

Niagara

Niagara has 559 confirmed cases, of which 395 have recovered and 54 have died. There are 110 active cases.

That's an increase of one confirmed case over Sunday, and one more death. 

There are outbreaks at Niagara Health's St. Catharines and Greater Niagara hospitals, Henley House in St. Catharines, Lundy Manor in Niagara Falls, and Royal Rose Place and Seasons Welland in Welland.