ICUs caring for half of Hamilton’s COVID hospital patients
More than half of the COVID-19 patients being cared for by Hamilton's hospitals are in the intensive care unit.
Of the 144 COVID patients at Hamilton's hospitals, 73 of them are critically ill. At St. Joseph's Healthcare alone, 34 of the 41 COVID patients are in intensive care, which is more than 80 per cent.
The third wave has seen more severe illness due to variants that have made up roughly three-quarters of Hamilton's COVID cases in the last month.
The vast majority of the fast-spreading variant cases are B.1.1.7, which originated in the United Kingdom. However, the number of other variants confirmed in Hamilton has been climbing in the last week.
There were 17 confirmed cases Monday of P.1, which was first identified in Brazil, compared to 14 on Sunday and three on Thursday. Cases of B.1.351, first found in South Africa, were up to 10 Monday from seven on Sunday and two on Thursday.
The city reported 101 more infections Monday, although the number of new cases has been under-reported in Hamilton for roughly two weeks due to an issue uploading lab results.
A more accurate picture is the daily average, which was 139 on May 8, and the weekly rate per 100,000, which was 163. These numbers have been falling slightly since May 5, but still remain as high as the peak of the second wave.
Also decreasing is the number of active cases, which is down to 1,124.
The per cent of tests coming back positive has been at record highs for the last week, sitting at 12.2 per cent Monday.
Hamilton has 44 outbreaks and nearly half are in workplaces. Another one-quarter of outbreaks are in schools, daycares and supportive housing. The third wave has seen outbreaks shift to these settings from hospitals and seniors' homes.
The city's largest ongoing outbreak is at an apartment building at 235 Rebecca St., which is just west of Wellington Street North near Wilson Street. Cases climbed to 103 on Monday.
An outbreak at supportive housing Evergreen Manor at 41 Cathcart St. also saw infections rise Monday to 24.
Cases also went up at Noah's Ark Children's Centre at 118 Limeridge Rd. E. to eight infections, at Kromet International Inc. on 20 Milburn Rd. to seven workers infected and at Stackpole International in Ancaster to six infections.
The Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre was put in outbreak again May 8 after an inmate tested positive.
Outbreaks were declared Sunday at Green Collar Landscaping in Lynden where four staff are infected and at Tim Hortons at 200 Barton St. E. where two staff have tested positive.
An outbreak was declared over Sunday at the YWCA Downtown Hamilton Childcare Centre.
Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com