Nearly 980 active COVID-19 infections in Hamilton, with 232 new cases reported over weekend
Hamilton reported more than 230 new COVID-19 cases and eight more deaths over the weekend.
The new deaths bring Hamilton's total number of those who have died with the virus to 136.
Based on The Spectator's records, the new deaths appear to be six people over the age of 80 and two people between the ages of 70 and 79. But public health no longer releases details regarding the person's precise age, if the death was connected to an outbreak or if the person lived in a seniors' home or in the community.
The city saw 134 new cases on Saturday and 98 new cases on Sunday - for a total of 232 - bringing the city's total case count to 4,885 since the pandemic was declared last March.
Sunday also marked a record for the city, with 979 known active cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton - the highest the city has seen so far.
In the city's hospitals, there are 15 COVID-19 patients at St. Joseph's and 39 at Hamilton Health Sciences. More than 330 people have been hospitalized in total.
The city's infection rate is 129 per 100,000 population - more than triple the rate that led to being moved into the red zone.
Hamilton is headed into lockdown on Monday, and will remain in the grey zone for at least 28 days - until Jan. 18, 2021.
Outbreaks continue to grow
Three new outbreaks were declared on Saturday - with no new outbreaks added on Sunday.
Eight workers at Franco's No Frills on Queenston Road have tested positive for COVID-19. Three employees at the east Hamilton grocery store had previously tested positive on Monday.
According to a Loblaws spokesperson, nine workers have tested positive at the grocery store over the past few weeks." At least three of the workers were last in the store on Dec. 5, Dec. 5 and Dec. 9. The remaining cases" were last in the store between Dec. 9 to Dec. 18.
Three staff members in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board office at 20 Education Crt. have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the board, the building remains open to staff but a working from home" program remains in effect. The centre has been closed to the public and only accessible by appointment since September.
Four staff members at the Ellen Fairclough Building at 119 King St. W. have also been infected. It's unclear what part of the building the outbreak is located. The downtown Hamilton office tower houses provincial government offices as well as a Service Ontario.
Across the city, there are ongoing outbreaks at 17 long-term care and seniors' homes - and they continue to grow.
At Shalom Village, a care home in Westdale, 51 residents, 48 staff and one visitor have tested positive - for a total of 100 cases - since the outbreak was declared on Dec. 9.
In a letter to families Saturday, interim CEO Dr. Larry Levin announced that two residents at the home have died.
One of our Shalom Village family residents in the apartments passed away Friday December 18, and one of our Long Term Care family members passed away this morning," wrote Levin on Dec. 19. Our sincere condolences to their families."
At Grace Villa - the city's largest ongoing outbreak - the total case count sits at 196, with 127 residents and 69 staff having tested positive. As of Sunday, at least 25 residents have died, according to the province's database.
There are also two hospital outbreaks, including one at Juravinski Hospital which continues to grow. Declared on Dec. 3 on the E3 unit, the outbreak has spread through five units and now up to 83 infections including 39 patients, 42 staff and two students. At least three people have died.
Outbreaks at Macassa Lodge, Lawfield Elementary School and Rygiel Supports for Community Living are all over.
COVID-19 cases in schools
Fifteen students and three more staff members in Hamilton's schools have tested positive for COVID-19 since Friday.
At the Hamilton-Wentworth District School board, Queen Victoria Elementary School, Ridgemount Elementary School, Rosedale Elementary School, R.A. Riddell Elementary School, Lawfield Elementary School and Nora Frances Henderson Secondary School all saw one new case.
A remote learner as well as a staff member at Richard Beasley Elementary School also tested positive.
At Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School, a trio of students are infected, while at Cathy Wever Elementary School, a pair of students also tested positive.
At the city's Catholic board, St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School and St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School each had a staff member test positive.
St. Marguerite d'Youville Catholic Elementary School, St. Thomas the Apostle School and St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School all saw one new case.
Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com