Hamilton at risk of moving to 'orange' zone after new daily record 72 COVID-19 cases

With 72 new cases in 24 hours, Hamilton has broken its record for new daily COVID-19 infections — and if the city's case numbers continue to move in the wrong direction, associate medical officer of health Dr. Ninh Tran says Hamilton could see more restrictions imposed by the end of November.

"It's ultimately going to put us at risk of moving into the 'orange' category," he said in an interview on Sunday, referring to the province's new colour-coded system to determine restrictions in a given region.

"To move to 'orange' you need to start having 40 cases per 100,000 people per week and we're in the 30-somethings ... if we continue at this rate ... we put ourselves at risk of being in the 'orange' category this month."

Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) recorded 2,117 confirmed cases since March.

The city saw 118 new cases when including Saturday's numbers. That increase is one of the city's largest.

It also marks 2,000 confirmed cases in Hamilton. The city originally hit 1,000 cases on Sept. 2, which means it only took two months this time around to grow by another 1,000 cases.

There are at least 319 people in Hamilton with COVID-19 as of Sunday, a leap of 58 new active cases in 24 hours.

Community spread causing COVID in care homes

But the cases are more than just numbers that decide what businesses close or open.

Two more residents in retirement or long-term care settings died, according to public health — a woman in her 90s at The Village Of Wentworth Heights and a woman in her 90s at Chartwell Willowgrove.

COVID-19 has killed a total of 53 people in Hamilton.

Tran said locals of all ages are contributing to community spread by not following pleas from public health to avoid unnecessary outings and contact with people outside their households.

That community spread, Tran said, is reaching people who work in healthcare, and ultimately, the city's most vulnerable populations in retirement and long-term care settings.

"It's easy to separate if you and your parent aren't in a long-term care home or you're not working in one, it's natural for parents to separate it as a long-term care issue and not my issue ... indirectly, the way you control transmission, the better chance we give these vulnerable settings against COVID," he explained.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said the new numbers are "very concerning."

"It's an indicator of our not doing so well of following the public health recommendations," he said in an interview on Sunday.

"We've relaxed a little bit as a community and we need to double up and get back to the measures that are actually going to make a difference."

Seven people are in hospital and HPHS has declared 1,743 cases as resolved.

St. Joseph's Villa has 11 positive COVID-19 cases

There are 18 active outbreaks, one of which is at a long-term care home that has infected 11 people.

The outbreak at the Birch Unit-North Tower in St. Joseph's Villa in Dundas led eight residents and three staff to test positive for the virus.

A statement on the care home's website states the outbreak is currently isolated to that specific unit.

"The Birch Trail home area is now closed and all outbreak protocols are in place Villa-wide," reads the online notice.

The protocols include cancelling absences, visits  and non-essential activities (with the exception of medical appointments and one essential caregiver respectively).

Families can arrange virtual visits through staff members on their loved one's unit. It's the second time St. Joseph's Villa has had an outbreak — the first time was on Oct. 21 when an employee got infected.

HPHS declared four other outbreaks between late Friday and Sunday.

A resident at Aberdeen Gardens retirement residence on Dundurn Street and an employee at Idlewyld Manor, a long-term care home on Sanatorium Road, both have the virus.

Hatts Off Group Home has three infected workers and Alexander Place long-term care home has one infected employee.

The city's largest active outbreak is at Chartwell Willowgrove, which has infected 31 residents and 20 staff. 

Another infected employee at Stoney Creek Fortinos

A fourth staff member at Fortinos on Highway 8 in Stoney Creek tested positive for COVID-19.

Fortinos spokesperson Beverly Wright wrote in an email that the worker was last in the store on Nov. 2 

"The store is considered low risk by public health. Stringent cleaning protocols remain in place," read the email.

Public health has not declared an outbreak at the store.

1 new student case of COVID-19

A student at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Hamilton has tested positive for the virus.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board said the student was last in the school on Friday.

"Any students who are required to self-isolate will be contacted directly by HPHS. Persons who test positive for COVID-19 may not return to school until they are cleared by HPHS," reads a letter to families.

"The school will continue to follow guidance from Public Health Officials around infection prevention and control. As part of its COVID-19 action plan, the HWCDSB will undertake a deep cleaning and disinfection of all areas at the school occupied by the symptomatic individual and will ensure all preventive measures are in place."

Brant

A staff member at Shoppers Drug Mart on Fairview Road tested positive for COVID-19. Loblaw said the employee was last in the store on Nov. 1.

Brant County reported 77 active cases on Sunday.

There have also  been 323 confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic, 14 more since Friday.

Five people with the virus have died and two people remain in hospital, but 255 cases are resolved.

There are two active outbreaks affecting retirement homes.

The outbreak at Brucefield Manor Retirement Home has reported 16 residents and five staff with the virus.  

At Riverview Terrace Retirement Home, 10 residents have been infected with the virus, as well as three staff.

Halton

A staff member at Fortinos on Plains Road East in Burlington tested positive for COVID-19.

Loblaw says the worker was last in the store on Nov. 3.

Burlington reported 77 active cases.

Statistics for Halton Region on Saturday showed 408 active COVID-19 cases in the area.

There has been a total of 2,578 cases, which is 110 more than Friday.

Thirty-eight people have died but 2,132 cases are resolved.

Haldimand-Norfolk

Haldimand and Norfolk reports 26 active cases of the virus.

It has seen 565 positive cases of the virus since the pandemic began.

Thirty-two people have died of the virus, but 502 cases have been resolved.

Niagara

An employee at Shoppers Drug Mart on Fourth Avenue in St. Catharines tested positive for COVID-19. Loblaw said the worker was last in the store on Nov. 2.

There have been 1,639 cases of COVID-19 reported in Niagara, which is an increase of 54 since Friday. 

Data on the region's website says that 1,327 of those cases are resolved and 236 are active.

There have been 76 deaths and there are 16 active outbreaks.

Six Nations

An update from Six Nations of the Grand River shows seven active cases as of 6 p.m. on Thursday.

There have been 93 cases on Six Nations territory since the pandemic began, including 87 that are resolved.

One person has died.