Hamilton reports another new record high of 162 COVID-19 cases

Hamilton is reporting 162 new COVID-19 cases Thursday, the highest new case count ever reported in the region.

Hamilton Public Health Services data says four more people have died. There are 853 known active cases.

The new numbers bring Hamilton's case count to a total of 4,567 since the start of the pandemic.

Of those, 127 people have died. Seventy-eight per cent of cases are considered recovered.

In the past seven days, HPHS says four per cent of COVID-19 tests have come back positive.

Public health hasn't said the ages or genders of the four people who died, or whether they reside in long-term care homes. The service said earlier this week that it would stop releasing that information, saying it took up too much staff time. 

The city also reported two new outbreaks as of Dec. 16. An outbreak was declared at the Meadows Long-Term Care home, where one resident has been confirmed infected, as well as the Amica Dundas seniors' residence, where one staff member is infected.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Grace Villa remains the city's largest outbreak. The number of cases grew to 186 since Nov. 25. Six more residents were infected for a total of 124, and three more staff for a total of 62.

Six more staff and three more residents at Shalom Village Nursing Home also tested positives. There have been 87 cases at the home since Dec. 9 (46 residents, 40 staff, one visitor).

The weekly rate of new cases per 100,000 people in Hamilton rose to 115.

Outbreak at Niagara hospital, 44 new cases in the region

Meanwhile, Niagara Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in a unit at the Greater Niagara General hospital.

The organization says four patients and two staff members tested positive in the Trillium Unit.

"All of the cases are healthcare associated," the statement said.

The hospital has closed the unit to new admissions, "unless medically necessary," and is doing contact tracing.

The unit has also increased cleaning and disinfection, the statement says. Visitors are not allowed.

Niagara Health says it has 42 patients with COVID-19, the statement says, which is "the highest number during the pandemic." It says it is managing five COVID-19 outbreaks.

Meanwhile, Niagara Region is reporting 44 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 2,767 since the pandemic began.

There were no new deaths reported.

Niagara Region says there are 419 active cases, 22 active outbreaks, and 2,256 cases have been resolved.

12 new cases in Burlington

Halton public health officials are reporting 12 new cases in Burlington, for a total of 119 cases since the pandemic began.

Burlington has seen 21 deaths in total.

10 new cases in Haldimand and Norfolk

There are 10 new COVID-19 cases reported in Halidmand and Norfolk counties.

There have been 758 confirmed cases since March, including 59 that are active and that 661 are recovered.

Thirty-three people with COVID-19 have died.

19 new cases in Brant and Brantford

Brant and Brantford have reported 19 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 700.

There are 106 active cases and 589 that are resolved.

Two people are currently hospitalized, which is one more patient than yesterday. 

A total of five people who were infected have died since the start of the pandemic.