Hamilton reports another 292 COVID infections to begin the new year
Hamilton has reached a new record number of active COVID cases to start the new year with another 292 infections reported by public health today.
The city did not provide a daily COVID case update on Jan. 1, so the large jump in infections represents more than a single-day increase since the last update on New Year's Eve.
Still, the 1,523 total active cases is a new high for a city that has also watched the weekly rate of infection per 100,000 people climb steadily to 154 in the new year.
The infection rate was closer to 116 when the province forced Hamilton into pandemic lockdown on Dec. 18 in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
Another six people who had COVID-19 have also died, bringing the city's grim total of pandemic fatalities to 174.
Hamilton Health Sciences also declared two new COVID-19 outbreaks at its hospital sites on New Year's Day.
One outbreak was declared on the E3" unit at Juravinski Hospital after five patients in the clinical teaching unit tested positive for the virus Dec. 31. The Mountain hospital unit cares for patients with serious medical conditions like diabetes, stroke and dementia.
In a release, the hospital said all staff, doctors and students who have spent prolonged periods of time" on the unit will be tested for COVID.
The other new outbreak was declared on 5 West" - a COVID treatment unit - at the Hamilton General Hospital after four staff members tested positive for the virus. All staff associated with the downtown hospital unit are being tested and Hamilton's public health department is reaching out to potential contacts.
The hospital release said no additional cases have been found linked to previously declared outbreaks at the General or Juravinski. The latter hospital site has struggled with an outbreak declared Dec. 3 that was linked to 102 cases and eight deaths.
A prior outbreak at the restorative care unit at St. Peter's Hospital in the east city is now over.
The latest outbreaks come as hospitalizations due to COVID illness surge in the city, with 67 patients spread between HHS and St. Joseph's Healthcare as of Dec. 30.
There are around 28 active outbreaks in hospitals, care homes and businesses across Hamilton.
Hamilton entered pandemic lockdown Dec. 18 in an effort to curb spiking infection numbers.
Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com