Seven COVID-19 deaths reported in one day in Hamilton
Seven COVID-19 deaths have been reported in one day in Hamilton as variants described as killing faster and younger" make up more of the city's cases.
Just over 54 per cent of new cases in Hamilton screened positive for a fast-spreading variant from March 26 to April 1 reports Public Health Ontario. That is up from around 30 per cent two weeks ago.
As the new variants spread you'll see that COVID is killing faster and younger," Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown, dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, said during provincial projections April 1.
This is not only a more transmissible disease, it's also a more dangerous disease with a higher risk of ICU admission, a higher risk of death, a higher risk of hospitalization and a higher risk of intubation - being put on a ventilator," he said. Perhaps as worrisome, a much higher risk of asymptomatic transmission that really reinforces the importance of masking and physical distancing."
Of the deaths reported Wednesday, two appear to be seniors in their eighties, three are in their seventies and two in their 60s.
Of the city's 330 pandemic deaths, nearly 88 per cent have been those age 70 and above. There have now been 34 COVID deaths of people in their 60s in Hamilton.
The deaths come one day after Hamilton's hospitals warned of the strain being put on them by COVID with surgeries scaled back again, ICU surge plans put in place and a field hospital with 80 beds set to open next month in a Wellington Street North parking lot near Hamilton General.
A lot of these patients hit very close to us," Dr. Mark Soth, chief of critical care at St. Joseph's Healthcare, said with his voice breaking. We see people our own age, we see people that are (like) our own parents, we see people that look just like our friends and they are in the ICU dying from this, so it's not something we can talk about easily."
The city reported 132 new COVID cases Wednesday, bringing the total active cases to 904.
Hamilton has 1,171 presumed variant cases and 17 confirmed infections of B.1.1.7, which originated in the United Kingdom.
The weekly rate per 100,000 was 116 as of Tuesday, which is nearly three times the lower limit of the red zone of the province's COVID-19 response framework.
Hamilton's hospitals are caring for 101 COVID patients as of Wednesday.
It's daunting to consider the coming weeks," said Hamilton Health Sciences CEO Rob MacIsaac.
Hamilton has 46 active outbreaks, including 33 linked to the variants.
Six new cases were reported Wednesday at Jayne Industries in Stoney Creek where 14 workers have been infected in a variant-related outbreak since March 30.
Connon Nurseries in Waterdown has had 26 workers now test positive in an outbreak declared March 29.
Another large variant-linked workplace outbreak at a construction site at 2126 Rymal Rd. E. is up to 20 cases since March 26.
Hospitals have also seen cases rise in variant-linked outbreaks. Hamilton General Hospital's unit 8 west has climbed to 28 cases, including 23 patients.
The outbreak at St. Peter's Hospital has grown to 22 infections, including 16 patients.
Outbreaks were declared over Tuesday at Rygiel Supports for Community Living on Sanatorium Road, Extendicare Hamilton, Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club at Viscount Montgomery Elementary School and Lake Avenue Elementary School.
More to come.
Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com