Research study finds no cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton shelters

There's a bit of good news emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic in Hamilton and it involves a segment of the population that often isn't at the centre of good news.

Dr. Tim O'Shea is a Hamilton infectious diseases specialist who treats a lot of vulnerable and addicted patients. In April, he started a small research study that involves ongoing COVID-19 testing for clients and staff at the city's network of emergency shelters.

Of the 300 tests conducted to date, there hasn't been a single positive result from clients or staff at the emergency shelters, such as those run by the Good Shepherd, Salvation Army and Mission Services.

A coronavirus outbreak among clients in an emergency shelter could be particularly dangerous because many vulnerable people have poor health and the virus could spread quickly through a facility.

Despite the fact we've spread people out within the shelter system, there are still people sleeping in dorm-like settings," he said. There's limited ability for people to physically distance."

O'Shea said he's pleasantly surprised" by the results.

This is kind of what we wanted to see, that we started at a point where we don't have any positive tests," O'Shea said.

Since the start of the outbreak in Hamilton, two shelter clients and one staff member not connected with the study have tested positive for COVID-19.

Before the pandemic began, there were about 340 emergency beds in the city for men, women, families and youth. That has since increased to nearly 420.

To help spread people out, the number of beds available in men's shelters has been reduced by about 70 but that's been offset by 74 beds for men that have been set up in FirstOntario Centre plus 23 hotel rooms that are being used if necessary.

But the fact Hamilton hasn't had any major COVID-19 outbreaks isn't the only good news, O'Shea said.

The pandemic has created an unprecedented level of co-operation between the city, public health and the emergency shelter operators.

People really do have a clearer sense of this is what we're working towards and we're all working towards it together." said O'Shea.

I'm realizing more and more that for the people who work in the shelters, it's not just a job," he said. There's a bit of a higher calling to it. They are dedicated to looking after people."

Kaley Connelly fits that description. She's the nurse manager of the Good Shepherd's transitional beds program, which operates out of the men's centre on Mary Street.

The 10-bed program provides medical and housing support to people who are leaving the hospital but don't have appropriate - or any - housing.

We're a mix between the human side and the medical side," Connelly said.

She, too, has been amazed at the cohesion between city agencies over the past two months.

It has really brought the city and all the agencies so much closer," she said. There's a realization that we are all better when we're thinking about this together.

The pandemic now is COVID but the pandemic prior to that is the opioid crisis or homelessness," she said.

Connelly said the fact the study hasn't found any positive COVID-19 cases is a testament both to staff and the clients.

It shows not only the resiliency of the people we serve but that we're doing something right," said Connelly.

I really do hope that this kind of collaboration and innovation that we're seeing now will continue."

Steve Buist is a Hamilton-based investigative reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbuist@thespec.com