Anyone 18 years and older in Hamilton hot spots can book vaccine appointment Monday
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Hamilton got a big boost over the weekend.
Anyone 18 and older living in one of the city's five hot spot postal codes will be eligible to book a vaccination appointment on May 3.
Public health said in a news release Sunday that inoculations will be available at any large-scale or mobile pop-up vaccine clinic. Walk-ins are not permitted.
The five hot spot postal codes are:
- L8W on the east Mountain;
- L9C on the west Mountain;
- L8N, which includes downtown east of James Street and the Stinson neighbourhood to the Mountain brow;
- L8L, which covers the North End, Beasley, Landsdale, Keith, Stipley and Crown Point West;
- L9K, which includes part of the west Mountain and Ancaster, including Meadowlands.
Residents in L9C and L8W can book an appointment at a large-scale clinic through the provincial portal.
Residents in L9C, L8W, L8L, L8N and L9K can book an appointment at a large-scale or mobile pop-up clinic by calling public health's COVID-19 hotline at 905-974-9848 (option 7).
Additionally, public health said anyone who is turning 50 years and older in 2021, has high-risk health conditions or cannot work from home will be able to book an appointment for a vaccine on the Ontario portal on May 6.
This applies to all postal codes in Hamilton.
The positive vaccine news comes amid a surge of COVID-19 infections that have never before been topped during the pandemic.
Hamilton has recorded more than 100 cases for 12 consecutive days.
On Sunday, public health reported 251 new coronavirus cases - a big jump over the 131 reported Saturday.
Active cases fell to 1,751, a slight drop from 1,773 Saturday.
No new deaths were recorded over the weekend, but hospitalizations increased by 18. Since April 16, 147 people in Hamilton have been hospitalized due to coronavirus.
The seven new outbreaks reported on Saturday and Sunday include two each at local hospitals and popular city restaurants.
Two patients in the surgical oncology unit at Juravinski Hospital and three patients and one staff member in the palliative care unit at St. Peter's Hospital have tested positive for novel coronavirus.
Each outbreak was declared Friday and marks the fifth ongoing outbreak at local hospitals.
Outbreaks reported Sunday include Himalya Restaurant on Violet Drive off Centennial Parkway North with five staff cases, Earth To Table Bread Bar on Locke Street South with two staff cases, and Stackpole International off Cormorant Road in Ancaster Business Park with four staff cases.
The majority of active outbreaks in Hamilton - 29 of 37 - have screened positive for a variant of concern.
Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com