Active COVID cases top 600 as Hamilton reports four more have died
Hamilton reported 72 new cases of COVID-19 and four new deaths Sunday, bringing the virus death toll to 98.
The deaths include a 78-year-old man who died Dec. 5, an 87-year-old man who died Dec. 4, a 93-year-old woman who died Dec. 2, and a 97-year-old woman who died Dec. 1.
Hamilton public health says all four deaths reported Sunday are associated with an outbreak at Grace Villa, a long-term-care home on the east Mountain, where 78 people - 47 residents and 31 staff - have tested positive since it was declared Nov. 25.
As of Dec. 6, seven seniors at the home have died.
The new cases brought the total number of active cases in Hamilton to 604, breaking the previous day's record of 598. There have been a total of 3,582 cases reported in the city.
On Saturday, Hamilton reported 108 new COVID-19 cases, tying its daily cases record from Nov. 30.
Hamilton reported three new outbreaks over the weekend.
A third outbreak at Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre (JHCC) was declared Sunday after a patient on F5, a medicine unit, tested positive for the virus.
The hospital has two additional outbreaks, one on E3 declared Dec. 3 and one on B3 declared on Dec. 4. A total of nine people - seven patients and two staff members - have tested positive for the virus.
One outbreak was also declared on Friday at St. Mark Catholic Elementary School at 43 Whitedeer Rd. in Stoney Creek, where one teacher and one student tested positive.
In a letter to families, the school's principal said the COVID-19 outbreak is related to the cohort that is currently self-isolating," and that anyone who tests positive will not return to school until they are cleared by public health.
The school will continue to follow guidance from Public Health Officials around infection prevention and control," the letter reads.
Another outbreak was declared Friday at The Wellington Nursing Home at 1430 Upper Wellington St., where one staff member tested positive.
Hamilton public health is reporting 25 ongoing outbreaks, the largest at Chartwell Willowgrove long-term-care home in Ancaster where 91 people - 58 residents, 31 staff and two visitors - are infected.
An outbreak declared Nov. 19 at First Place Hamilton retirement and supportive living at 360 King St. E. after two staff and one resident tested positive was declared over Dec. 4.
In Burlington, an outbreak declared Nov. 18 on 7 South 100 (7S100), a medicine unit at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH), is over, according to a Dec. 4 media release from the hospital. JBH says 3 North 700 (3N700) remains in outbreak status.
Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com