COVID surge: Hamilton breaks another record with 108 new cases
Hamilton had another record-breaking day, reporting a high of 108 new COVID infections and six more deaths in seniors' homes.
The outbreak at Chartwell Willowgrove in Ancaster is now the city's deadliest after the death toll rose to 17 - one more than the outbreak at the now-closed Rosslyn Retirement Residence from the first wave.
It's also the largest outbreak of the pandemic so far with infections now up to 87 - 57 residents, 28 staff and two visitors - and counting at the long-term-care home at 1217 Old Mohawk Rd. The two latest deaths there are a woman in her mid-80s who died Nov. 28 and a man in his early 90s who died Nov. 29.
Hamilton has set another record with 565 active cases as of Tuesday, which surpasses Monday's record of 511.
The jump in cases has been breaking various records daily since Thursday when the high was 71. The 108 new infections Tuesday breaks the record of 95 set Saturday and brings Hamilton's pandemic total to 3,266.
Hamilton's medical officer of health has said that lockdown may be inevitable" at this point as the surge of 469 cases since Thursday is from 10 to 14 days ago.
I am very concerned about many things at this point," Dr. Elizabeth Richardson said Monday. I'm concerned about the number of people who are not following guidelines."
Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said Monday a lockdown is looming" and he would support it if asked by the premier.
This thing can quickly spiral out of control," he said. That vaccine isn't available and likely will not be until well into the new year, so we need to contain this."
In Hamilton, 92 people with COVID-19 have died, which is three per cent of cases.
There are 19 ongoing outbreaks, with the latest declared Nov. 30 at Adelaide Hoodless Public School at 71 Maplewood Ave., where two staff have tested positive. There is also an outbreak at Rehoboth Christian School at 198 Inksetter Rd.
Five of the outbreaks are in workplaces and two at community agencies.
But the largest and fastest spreading are in seniors' homes which accounted for all of the deaths reported Tuesday.
A man in his late 80s died Nov. 28 in the outbreak at Hamilton Continuing Care at 125 Wentworth St. S. It is the eighth death at the long-term care home that is now at 49 infections.
A man in his late 70s died Nov. 28 at Baywoods at 330 Main St E. It is the fourth death at the long-term care home that has hit 42 cases.
Grace Villa at 45 Lockton Cres. has had its second death - a woman in her late 80s who died Nov. 29. The long-term-care home has reached 48 infections.
St. Joseph's Villa in Dundas has now had three deaths in two November outbreaks after a man in his early 90s died Nov. 30. One outbreak has ended at the seniors' home at 56 Governors Rd. but the other is ongoing with 31 cases.
All four homes plus Chartwell have had infection control orders issued by public health in November to try to stop the rapid spread of the virus.
There are also large outbreaks at the Village of Wentworth Heights, which has 21 cases, and Idlewyld Manor with 17 cases.
The devastating spread of the virus in seniors' homes across the province prompted Premier Doug Ford to announce Monday that all workers and visitors to long-term care homes will now need to be tested for the virus every five days instead of every two weeks.
St. Joseph's Healthcare is evaluating rapid tests and Richardson says some will be trialled" in long-term care to determine if they could help meet the new criteria so the testing system isn't overwhelmed.
Questions have been raised about why a community wound clinic has continued at St. Joseph's Villa despite the large outbreak that is ongoing there.
St. Joseph's said it was reviewed by public health Tuesday and they agreed that the clinic is essential and the risks are low" to the community members entering the facility.
Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is no longer allowing cloth masks in its hospitals starting Wednesday. Patients and visitors will have to remove their face covering when they enter the hospital and put on a medical-grade mask given to them by screeners.
Public health and the local health-care system are starting to become strained. There have now been 230 people hospitalized with COVID since March with six COVID patients currently at St. Joseph's and 17 at HHS.
Our health-care system is not designed to deal with pandemics," said Eisenberger. Although they are trying to catch up, it's very difficult."
Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com