Staff worked at multiple sites prior to outbreaks at three Hamilton residential care facilities

Staff of a residential care operator in central Hamilton have been restricted to work at a single location after COVID-19 outbreaks were declared at three of its facilities.

Hamilton public health said staff at Kelly's Residence were working at multiple sites and residents were congregating at more than one location prior to the outbreaks.

The outbreaks were declared within days of each other and two have screened positive for a variant of concern.

It's critical that community settings, and all Hamiltonians, continue to follow public health guidance and advice to protect community members from the transmission of COVID-19," said spokesperson James Berry, who noted the movement of staff and congregating of residents likely contributed" to the spread of COVID between the homes.

The affected sites are located within a one-kilometre radius.

The first outbreak, which is linked to variant and was declared at Kelly's Main Street East location on April 4, has seen 12 residents and six staff test positive for COVID.

Another outbreak was declared April 5 at Kelly's Proctor Boulevard site after one resident became infected.

Two days later, a third outbreak was declared at the operator's Stinson Street facility. Three staff members have since tested positive, including some for a variant of concern.

Berry said all three locations are part of the province's second phase of the vaccine rollout. He did not confirm if any residents were vaccinated prior to the outbreaks.

Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com