Record 51 COVID outbreaks in Hamilton
Hamilton has a record 51 COVID outbreaks as the virus continues to spread in seniors' homes, hospitals and shelters.
Overall COVID numbers are decreasing in the city and around the province, but Ontario's chief medical officer of health says restrictions need to be followed now more than ever to keep a fast-spreading variant at bay.
We've got to make sure we don't step back on that and get casual as we see numbers coming down again," said Dr. David Williams.
The city reported 75 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday - only once in the last seven days has the number been above double-digits. The single-day record is 209 on Jan. 5.
The province was below 2,000 new cases in a day for the first time since Dec. 13.
We keep seeing these numbers coming down steadily and we see the impact of the lockdown on Boxing Day," Williams said about similar declines in most public health units in Ontario.
Now we have the further impact of the stay-at-home," he said. We are going to see some evidence of that as we go into 10, 12 and 13 days after that took effect."
The weekly rate of new cases per 100,000 population has fallen to 97. It was 190 on Jan. 5. Although it's still double the 48.1 from Nov. 1 to 7 just before Hamilton was put in the red zone. It was 116 when Hamilton went into lockdown Dec. 21.
We're going in the right direction," Williams said. But, we have to be more careful and cautious in the presence of variants."
He stressed that hospitalizations remain high in Ontario with over 400 COVID patients in the province's intensive-care units (ICU). The system becomes strained when it's at 200 or more.
Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph's had 121 COVID patients in their hospitals Monday. To compare, fewer than 150 COVID patients total were hospitalized in Hamilton in the first four months of the pandemic.
We hope that by our numbers coming down we're going to see less people being admitted to hospital," said Williams The ICU numbers have not dropped extensively."
Monday was the fourth day in a row that no new COVID deaths were reported in Hamilton. The city reported deaths every day from Jan 13 to Jan. 22.
More cause for optimism has been the decreasing number of active cases in Ontario, which is a trend also seen in Hamilton. The city reported 731 active cases Monday compared to a high of 1,714 on Jan. 5.
However, Hamilton still has 124 cases that are unaccounted for because public health has not been able to reach them after 14 days to ensure they're no longer sick. It's assumed they've recovered but not known for sure so they are not included among the city's 7,679 resolved cases.
William's says the numbers look promising" but cautioned it's early days."
While the numbers may be encouraging, I want to put ... in a little grain of salt," he said. We have to look at the trending to make sure we are there."
The big worry is the B.1.1.7 variant - or U.K. variant - that spreads faster and more easily, and may cause more severe illness.
It may be more prevalent than we think," said Williams. At the same time, it may be that our timing of our lockdown was fortuitous ... and it may be holding it at bay. Therefore, we don't want to be casual and careless about opening up too soon."
He says the fact it hasn't grown exponentially yet gives some reassurance" that current restrictions are working so Ontarians need to continue staying home, wearing masks and keeping their distance.
With the aggressive nature of the U.K. variant ... the reasons for being cautious ... has to be enhanced even further because it can be spread with breaches to those protocols in a very short period of time," said Williams. We're going to have be on our guard. The same measures that protect you from the other strain of COVID-19 will protect you from this one, but you have to do it consistently."
Outbreaks are another cause for concern with 22 Hamilton seniors' homes in outbreak, including a new one declared Jan. 24 at St. Peter's Residence at Chedoke long-term-care home on the west Mountain.
There are also 11 hospital units with outbreaks, including a new one declared Jan. 25 on E2 at Juravinski Hospital, where four patients have tested positive. Also, not included in the city's hospital outbreak count is one on C ward of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby, which is part of Hamilton Health Sciences.
Four shelters have outbreaks, as well as seven other congregate living settings which are particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19.
There are also three daycares and four workplaces in outbreak, including a new one declared Jan. 24 at Harster Greenhouses in Flamborough, where four staff are infected.
Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com