Hamilton COVID cases rising as vaccination slows

Hamilton reported its first COVID death in almost three weeks as active cases are rising.

The average new daily cases is also increasing, while outbreaks are being declared again.

It comes as vaccination is stalling despite walk-ins being available in many locations - first doses for eligible residents have gone up by one per cent since July 19 in Hamilton.

The rate is better for second doses, but still not a fast enough pace to meet provincial thresholds to drop nearly all COVID restrictions as early as Aug. 6.

Ontario's chief medical officer of health has been pleading with the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible as he anticipates a rise in cases by the beginning of September, fuelled by the aggressive Delta variant.

The pandemic in many areas of the world now is in the unvaccinated," Dr. Kieran Moore said at a provincial briefing Tuesday. The risk of getting COVID-19 is 6.4 times higher in unvaccinated individuals compared to those who are fully vaccinated, which means you remain vulnerable until you get your two shots."

The threat still posed by COVID is evident at a Burlington long-term-care home where six residents have died in an outbreak declared June 28. In total, 32 have been infected at the Village of Tansley Woods, including 26 residents.

Hamilton has six active outbreaks compared to zero near the beginning of the month.

Two of the outbreaks are in long-term-care homes - St. Joseph's Villa in Dundas has seen 14 test positive since July 9, while Arbour Creek Care Centre in east Hamilton has had 20 infected since July 16.

The downtown Salvation Army Hamilton Booth Centre shelter went into outbreak again July 23 after two men staying there tested positive.

Dynamite Clothing Store in CF Lime Ridge Mall has had two staff cases and Stoney Creek Glass has had four staff test positive since July 26.

The latest is The Meat Factory Ltd. in Stoney Creek, where four workers have been infected since July 27.

There is no information on whether those infected in Hamilton's outbreaks have had a COVID shot. Vaccines don't provide 100 per cent protection and breakthrough infections are possible, particularly for the most vulnerable - the elderly and immunocompromised.

The higher the proportion of our population immunized the less we'll have to worry about those vulnerable people getting COVID despite getting vaccinated," Moore said in July.

But vaccination is slowing in Hamilton with 76.2 per cent of those eligible getting a first shot as of July 28 compared to 75.2 per cent on July 19.

Second doses are rising at a faster pace, but are still far from the target of 75 per cent. The city will have to reach at least 70 per cent to prevent holding Ontario back from dropping almost all COVID restrictions as early as Aug. 6.

Hamilton had 64.5 per cent of those eligible get a second shot as of July 28 compared to 59.1 per cent on July 19.

First shots are moving by roughly 0.1 per cent a day and second doses by 0.5 per cent. At that pace, Hamilton won't meet the provincial targets by Aug. 6.

It's such an issue provincewide that Ontario is now being very cautious" about how much vaccine it's ordering.

We would like to minimize any spoilage of vaccine," said Moore. Obviously this is a very precious resource globally. We're monitoring our vaccination rate ... on a regular basis and don't want to take too much vaccine for Ontario if we can be using it elsewhere internationally or nationally."

Despite the race to get as many protected by fall as possible, Moore said Ontario will not loosen the rules as some other provinces have done to allow kids with late birthdays in 2009 to get the vaccine before they turn 12.

Part of the licensing for Health Canada was to ensure you adhered to the randomized controlled trials and the licensing control agreements," said Moore. It was our interpretation to follow the trials and the science to be 12 and up."

He expects there to be a vaccine approved for those age five to 12 by late fall or early winter and Ontario is already planning to ensure it's available and accessible through multiple means like we have now."

Public Health Ontario estimated Tuesday that vaccines have prevented 31,280 cases of COVID among Ontarians age 18 and over and prevented 2,496 hospitalizations or deaths of those age 70 and over.

Moore said what has been concerning him is an increase in hospital admissions for younger age groups, particularly those age 40 to 59.

Of the 25 COVID patients hospitalized in Hamilton, 12 are in the intensive care unit.

Hamilton reported its first COVID death Tuesday since July 7 - a senior age 80 or over. Of the city's 401 pandemic deaths, nearly two-thirds have been this age.

The city reported 20 new cases Thursday to bring active cases to 139 - the highest it has been since June 25.

Average daily cases went up to 16 on July 27, while the weekly rate per 100,000 population was up to 19 - both have been increasing since about July 14.

Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com