Hamilton basketball club outbreak grows; Halton records 66 new cases over weekend as new restrictions loom
Another person associated with a Hamilton-based basketball club has tested positive for COVID-19, as Hamilton recorded 30 new cases of the virus over the weekend.
Hamilton public health posted on its website that the basketball club outbreak now involves five people.
The outbreak was formally declared Wednesday, but public health has previously said there is no risk to the public and no further information will be provided about the outbreak.
No new outbreaks were declared over the weekend, but three outbreaks in the city ended.
Friday marked the end of the outbreak at Flynn Canada Ltd, which saw two staff members infected with COVID.
On Sunday, the public health also declared the outbreaks at Radius and ArcelorMittal's east-end site over.
The outbreak at the James Street South restaurant that saw six cases in its staff was connected to Hamilton's largest ongoing outbreak at SpinCo.
As of Friday, there were at least 85 cases associated with the downtown spin studio. The outbreak was declared on Oct. 5 and involves 52 riders, two staff and 31 cases of secondary transmission.
There are currently 13 ongoing outbreaks in Hamilton, including one at a church in the city's east end.
As of Saturday at 3 p.m., there were 154 active cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton. The cumulative case count is 1,661 cases, with 88 per cent or 1,456 cases, now considered resolved.
COVID in schools
A fifth student at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School has tested positive for COVID-19, following four other cases announced by Hamilton's Catholic board earlier this week.
The student was last in the building on Oct. 13 and the board was notified of the new case on Friday.
In a notice to parents, the board said Hamilton public health has indicated that there are no school-related close contacts with this individual."
At Highview Elementary School, a third student has tested positive, wrote principal Jamie McLean in a letter to parents.
The student was last in the building on Oct. 20 and the board was notified of the new case on Saturday.
Although this is the third case related to our school, public health has determined there is no epidemiological link between the cases, and therefore no outbreak will be declared," said McLean.
Families and staff members associated with the case have been notified and have been told to self-isolate for 14 days. Contact tracing is underway by Hamilton public health, added McLean.
Mohawk College reported its third case of the virus on Saturday - but this time on its Fennell Avenue campus.
In a notice Saturday, the college said a student had attended class on campus Oct. 19 experiencing no symptoms of COVID-19 infection, and followed all required protocols" including wearing a mask and keeping their distance from others.
The student later experienced symptoms, followed the appropriate steps and tested positive for COVID-19," the notice added.
The college said it's been advised by public health that there are no college-related close contacts to the student and therefore no risk to the college."
People who had casual contact" with the student have been asked to self-monitor for 14 days and they've already been notified, according to Mohawk.
Halton cases continue to rise
Halton Region recorded 66 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend, as provincial officials continued to monitor the situation in Hamilton's neighbouring municipality.
An announcement on whether or not the region will move back to a modified Stage 2 is expected Monday, while leaders from the region called on the province to release the criteria being used when imposing and lifting COVID-related restrictions.
Toronto, Peel Region and Ottawa moved to a modified Stage 2 on Oct. 10 and York Region followed on Oct. 19. The measures under the 28-day-long provincial order include the closure of gyms and movie theatres, and a ban on indoor dining in restaurants or bars.
Twenty-six of the new cases were recorded in Oakville, with 16 in Milton, 16 in Burlington and eight in Halton Hills.
Sunday marked Ontario's highest COVID case increase since the beginning of the pandemic, with 1,042 cases recorded by the province.
According to Health Minister Christine Elliott, nearly 38,800 tests were completed and 309 of the new cases were in Toronto, 289 in York Region, 80 in Ottawa and 52 in Durham. Seven new deaths were also recorded.
Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com