Chartwell says COVID-19 outbreak at Ancaster long-term care home has grown to 34 cases

A COVID-19 outbreak at a nursing home in Ancaster has grown to 34 cases, according to the company that runs the facility.

A spokesperson for Chartwell Retirement Residences says 19 people living at Willowgrove Long Term Care and 15 staff members have tested positive for the virus as of Friday.

"We know that this is an exceptionally difficult time for everyone and the deep concern this creates for family members," wrote Janine Reed in an email statement.

"We are doing everything possible to minimize the further transmission of the virus including increased staffing levels, heightened infection prevention and control practices, signage, active screening, monitoring and personal protective equipment."

The home is fully-staffed Friday and Saturday and is working with agencies to ensure they'll have enough employees to care for residents going forward, Reed added.

It's also working closely with the LHIN and public health.

An update from local public health officials Friday only showed 22 cases at Willowgrove, including 13 staff members and nine residents.

The COVID-19 statistics shared on the city's website is based on numbers reported to public health as of 3 p.m. the day before.

Jacqueline Durlov, a spokesperson for Hamilton public health, confirmed officials are working with Chartwell and investigating cases at Willowgrove.

"Given the number of confirmed positive cases associated with this outbreak, all staff and residents are being tested to determine the extent of the outbreak," she said.

Willowgrove is one of nine outbreaks in Hamilton Friday.

The city has seen 1,766 cases over the course of the pandemic, 15 more than were tallied Thursday.

Of those, 164 are active and 1,551 (88 per cent) are resolved.

Forty-eight people have died.

Niagara 

Seventy-one people in Niagara have died while infected with COVID-19.

The region has reported 1,409 cases throughout the pandemic, including 123 that were active Friday and 1,215 that were resolved.

Ten outbreaks are ongoing.

Halton

Thirty-seven more cases of COVID-19 were tallied in Halton Friday.

The region has recorded a total of 2,156 cases of which 247 are active and 1,874 are resolved.

Statistics on the Halton website show 605 of those cases have been in Burlington.

Thirty-five people with the virus have died since the pandemic began.

Six Nations

A COVID-19 update for Six Nations of the Grand River Friday showed 18 active cases.

There have been 90 cases of the virus on Six Nations territory as of Thursday, including 73 that are resolved.

One person has died.

Haldimand-Norfolk

Thirty-three people in Haldimand and Norfolk were known to have COVID-19 Friday.

The counties have counted 538 cases during the pandemic, with 468 people recovered.

Thirty-two deaths in the area are considered COVID-related.

Brant

Four new cases of the virus have been reported in Brant, bringing the number of active cases as of Friday to 37.

The county has reported 257 confirmed cases, 215 of which are resolved.

Five people have died.