'Disappointing' to see how many people are still holding private parties, city official says
Parties held through business ventures and in private residences, Paul Johnson says
The director of Hamilton's emergency operations centre on Monday said he was disappointed at the number of businesses and individuals still hosting private parties, in violation of COVID-19 rules.
Speaking at a news conference, Paul Johnson said bylaw enforcement officers are seeing more and more calls for responses to private parties.
"On occasion those happen through business ventures, and Party Villa is one of those types of activities, and a short term rental piece. I won't call it by other names because it's not a branded rental piece," Johnson said.
"But it acts in the same way that some of those short-term rental establishments act and it has been the host of gatherings that include too many people."
Johnson said parties are also happening in private residences even though those don't show up on the city's website.
"I can tell you, hearing from our bylaw enforcement officers, it is becoming more of the calls that they are going out to and that's disappointing because we do need to realize that while there is a slight loosening of the restrictions, we're not under the stay-at-home order for instance anymore, the Red Control category is really about controlling the spread because there are still high numbers of outbreaks and high levels of cases," Johnson said.
No large gatherings for St. Paddy's Day
Meanwhile, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton's medical officer of health, is urging people not join any large gatherings for St. Patrick's Day this year.
Richardson says while she knows that the March 17 celebration is one that many people partake in all throughout the community, she's urging caution.
"I just want to remind people as you think about St. Paddy's Day, to not gather with people who are outside of your household for celebrations, especially not so in large numbers," Richardson said.
"While you're permitted, of course, to have small gatherings under the current Red restrictions, it's not recommended, particularly with the variants of concern that we have within our communities.
"So please find ways to celebrate, and there are many. Raise a flag at home, have a green drink, put on the green clothes, have a good time but please do not get together in crowded spaces or large crowds," Richardson said.
30 new cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton
On Monday Hamilton Public Health Services is reporting 30 new cases of COVID-19.
There are 409 active cases of COVID-19 in the city with no new deaths linked to the virus in the last 24 hours.
Hamilton's weekly rate of new cases per 100,000 people is at 56.
Since March, a total of 287 people have died after contracting COVID-19.
The total number of resolved cases now stands at 9,959
25 COVID-19 outbreaks
There are currently 25 COVID-19 outbreaks in the city, the latest being Scharringa Greenhouses, Supercuts at 80 Dundas St. E. Waterdown, and Queensdale Elementary School
The outbreak Extendicare Hamilton was marked as resolved as of Sunday.
Status of vaccine distribution in Hamilton
As of the end of day March 7, a total of 46,342 vaccines had been administered — 12,458 at mobile clinics, 30,948 at the fixed clinic at Hamilton Health Sciences, and 2,936 at St. Joseph's Healthcare Clinic.
Brant
The county of Brant has 42 active cases according to data online. There were eight new cases in the last 24 hours.
There have been 1,528 cases since March and 12 deaths. There's no one currently hospitalized with COVID-19.
A total of 1,474 cases have been marked as resolved.
There have been 10,258 doses of the vaccine administered.
Haldimand-Norfolk
Haldimand and Norfolk Counties are reporting a total of 37 active cases of COVID-19. There were five new cases over the last 24 hours.
There have been 1,464 cases throughout the pandemic. Of those 1,383 have recovered.
The local public health unit has linked the virus to 39 deaths.
There have been 9,490 doses of the vaccine administered.
Halton
The number of COVID-19 cases in Halton rose by 34, for a total of 9,780 so far.
Data indicates 274 of those cases are active.
Six of the new cases were in Burlington, which has seen 2,472 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. There are 43 active cases in the city.
A total of 198 people across the region have died after being infected with the virus, 49 of them in Burlington.
The region is reporting a total of 138 variant cases, 21 of which have been confirmed as variants of concern. The remaining 117 have been screened positive. These are individuals for whom a mutation was identified in the case's SARS-CoV-2 positive specimen, suggestive of a possible variant of concern.
Niagara
Niagara is reporting 20 new cases of COVID-19. The region has seen 8,764 cases over the course of the pandemic, including 209 that are active.
A total of 369 deaths have been linked to the virus over the course of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, 8,186 cases are now marked as resolved.
There have been 11,828 doses of the vaccine administered in Niagara.
Six Nations
Six Nations of the Grand River has 101 active COVID-19 cases, according to Ohsweken Public Health.
There have been 386 cases reported over the course of the pandemic and four deaths.
A total of 281 cases have been marked as resolved.
Four people are currently hospitalized as a result of COVID-19.
Six Nations is currently in two weeks of lockdown until Friday, March 19.
During the two-week period programs and services are limited to urgent needs only.
Vaccination site opens at Emily C. General Elementary School
Meanwhile, Six Nations has opened a vaccination clinic at Emily C. General Elementary School and administered 154 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
To date, 295 vaccines have been administered in the community.
Six Nations received another 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine on March 5. These doses will be administered at the vaccination clinic this week.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force worked together with the Emergency Control Group to immediately set a pilot program in motion to vaccinate the remaining front-line workers and elder community members as outlined in the priority matrix.
Ontario sees 1,631 new cases of COVID-19
Ontario is reporting 1,631 new cases of COVID-19 on the same day stay-at-home orders lifted in three regions, including Toronto and Peel — which have consistently seen the province's highest number of infections throughout the pandemic.
Monday's cases mark the highest number of new infections in over a month, though Ontario's Ministry of Health says today's case count is higher than expected due to a "data catch-up process."
Provincewide, the Ontario government is reporting that some 626 people are in hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 282 are in intensive care, and 184 require a ventilator to breathe.
Health units across Ontario administered 21,882 doses of vaccines yesterday. A total of 273,676 people in Ontario have now been given both shots of a vaccine.