Hamilton records 149 new COVID cases; outbreak at downtown apartment complex grows to 66
Hamilton public health is reporting 149 new COVID-19 cases and three new deaths Wednesday.
One of the deaths was a resident in their 60s, another death was a Hamiltonian in their 70s and the third death was a resident in their 80s, as per The Spectator's records.
The latest deaths bring Hamilton's total number of people who have died with the virus to 366.
The city reported three new outbreaks Tuesday.
One of the outbreaks is at Criticall Ontario, a call centre on Upper James Street, where two staff members have tested positive.
The Hamilton Mountain call centre is a dynamic and progressive health-care organization dedicated to supporting access to and delivery of urgent and emergent care within Ontario," according to its website. It's funded by the province.
An outbreak has also been declared at St. Thomas More Children's Centre on Upper Paradise Road. One staff member and one patron have tested positive for the virus. The outbreak is connected to the B.1.1.7 variant, which originated in the United Kingdom.
There is also a suspected outbreak at Rygiel Supports for Community Living on the south Mountain. One resident has tested positive and a variant has not been detected.
There are 12 new cases connected to a widespread outbreak within the Rebecca Towers apartment complex. At least 66 residents and one staff member have tested positive in the outbreak, while one person has died.
Outbreaks at CHCH TV Hamilton, Blackadar Continuing Care, Sunshine Daycare, Air Wise Sales Inc. and within the tin mill at ArcelorMittal Dofasco have all been declared over.
As of Wednesday, there are 35 active outbreaks in the city. Nearly all of them are connected to a variant of concern.
Hamilton has recorded a total of 17,963 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic was declared last March.
The active caseload has dropped to 1,266, a nearly 400-case difference from the day before.
More to come ...
Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com