Hamilton records two more COVID-19 deaths over the weekend
Hamilton recorded two new COVID-19 deaths over the weekend as active case counts crept back above 400.
The city reported 79 new coronavirus cases and 431 active cases Sunday, up from 35 and 378 Saturday.
It marks the first time active cases have increased since Feb. 28.
One person in their 60s and one person in their 70s were reported to have died Saturday and Sunday, respectively. A total 287 people in Hamilton have died due to complications with COVID-19.
Presumed cases of fast-spreading coronavirus variants in the city crossed the 100-mark this weekend.
On Sunday, public health reported 106 presumed cases of the variants, which are more contagious and believed to cause more severe illness.
That's up 18 from the 88 presumed cases reported Friday and nearly triple the 37 presumed cases reported Feb. 26.
All coronavirus cases in Ontario are screened for the variants that first appeared in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil. Cases that screen positive for a variant are then sent to a lab for confirmation. Nearly all of those cases end up being confirmed, according to Hamilton's medical officer of health.
To date, Hamilton has had four confirmed cases of the B.1.1.7 strain, which originated in the U.K.
The city's active outbreak total is now at 28 after four outbreaks were declared and three were ended over the weekend.
The Meadows Long Term Care Home in Ancaster entered outbreak protocol Thursday after one staff member became infected with COVID-19.
One teacher and one student tested positive at Orchard Park Secondary School on Friday.
Three staff members at Red Hill Toyota at 2333 Barton St. E. were reported to be infected in an outbreak declared Saturday.
Outbreaks at I.H. Mission Service and Aug. 8 on Wilson Street were ended Saturday. An outbreak at Juravinski Hospital Unit M2 - where eight people were infected and two died since it was declared Feb. 19 - ended Sunday.
The new COVID cases reported over the weekend bring Hamilton's pandemic total to 10,801. Ninety-two per cent of those - 9,909 - have recovered.
Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com