Hamilton sees uptick in COVID-19 cases from social gatherings with no physical distancing

As the city starts to reopen municipal facilities and recreation programs, Hamilton's medical officer of health is warning about an uptick of the virus from friends and relatives socializing.

Hamilton had 63 active cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday compared to just 14 at the end of July. The increase is partly due to friends and relatives gathering together without proper physical distancing for several hours - sometimes multiple times. In some cases, being outdoors didn't even stop the spread.

This virus transmits the best when you are in close and prolonged contact with one another," said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson during a virtual media scrum Tuesday. It may be indoors, it may be some circumstances outdoors, but they're in a social setting so they're together more closely. People are tending to let down in terms of the physical distancing and unfortunately we're seeing transmission."

Keeping up with measures from public health is more important than ever as the city moved to its Phase 3 reopening plan Tuesday, which is different from the province's third stage that Hamilton moved to July 24.

Our Phase 3 of Hamilton reopens is now our new reality - our new norm as it were," said Mayor Fred Eisenberger. We know Phase 3 will be lengthy. It will continue until a COVID-19 vaccine or treatment is available or is in widespread use. That is likely to take some time. The early estimates of any kind of vaccine being available, if at all, at this point is early 2021 ... and maybe a ways beyond that by the time vaccines are actually generally available."

The city's Phase 3 includes reopening most municipal facilities and offices, as well as recreation programming and events.

Municipal service centres have already reopened for residents to pay property taxes, pick up blue boxes, get animal licences and use other city services. Public counters are again available at the provincial offences administration offices to pay fines or file documents.

More recreation facilities will come on line as modified open gyms and swims start Sept. 14. Modified swimming lessons begin Oct. 5. Some general interest and preschool programs will be back soon, as well as seniors' centres and clubs. The city will also resume rentals.

These things are going to take some time," said Paul Johnson, director of the Emergency Operations Centre. We're going to open in the same way we've done with everything else, in a slow and steady way that allows it to be done safely and ... with the same level of success that we've seen in our previous openings."

The exception is public skating, which will not resume until at least the new year.

I know there has been a bit of consternation about why aren't we just laying ice everywhere," said Johnson. Does that mean we are not going to allow hockey to happen and open skates? The answer to that is, No.' We want to get back into the business of making sure ice is available but we want to know the volume. If there are ways, given the financial impact we've seen, to curtail activities at our arenas because we don't need them, then we want to know that first.

There is no word yet on what Phase 3 means for hockey.

Registration for hockey has been delayed, as everybody knows," said Johnson. We're looking at how to return people safely and the reality is, it's not going to be the same level of usage. Return to play and competition and all the rest is still a little ways off. There are training, tryout and practice opportunities that will continue to grow but those, of course, will be in smaller numbers."

Johnson also has no timeline on when the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena on Hester Street will transition back from a drive-through COVID-19 assessment centre.

The reality is these assessment centres - in some way, shape or form - are going to need to be here for quite some time," said Johnson. We've certainly let folks know that at some stage we expect that to come back as an arena. It's one of our flagship arenas. But right now we're just going to wait on the overall assessment centre strategy."

Public health has expected to see increases in cases as more of the province and city reopens.

What we're trying to do is keep that curve flat as we go forward," said Richardson. We don't think we're going to be eliminating it any time soon."

She emphasizes the importance of handwashing, physical distancing, wearing masks indoors as well as outdoors when in close contact with others, and staying home when sick even if symptoms are mild.

The other thing we've seen unfortunately in the last several days to a week, we do have a few reports where people are continuing to go out with friends even after they've developed some symptoms," said Richardson. If you are not quite sure, don't take the chance and go out. Stay home and give it a day."

Richardson also stresses that residents should only be in one social bubble, where physical distancing isn't required, and it's limited to 10 people including those you live with.

You don't have a group of people for Monday, a group for Friday, a group for Saturday," she said. Just one group of people who you let your guard down with."

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