Hamilton hits record high test positivity rate, one COVID-19 case at Hamilton Farmers’ Market

Hamilton recorded two new outbreaks and 147 new COVID-19 cases Thursday.

Meanwhile, the city's test positivity rate hit a record high of 12.3 per cent. On Monday, it was 12.2 per cent, beating the previous record of 11.3 per cent reported on April 28. This rate refers to the per cent of tests coming back positive in the last seven days.

The two new outbreaks are at Assured Automotive on the Mountain and Medallion Corporation Office at 47 Bold St., with two cases each in staff.

The rate of cases per 100,000 population over a seven-day average is 180 as of Tuesday, the most recent numbers.

St. Joseph's Healthcare is caring for 50 COVID patients, 29 of whom are in the ICU, and Hamilton Health Sciences is caring for 99 COVID patients, 43 of whom are in the ICU.

There are 36 active outbreaks across the city.

The largest outbreak is at Rebecca Towers apartment building, located at 235 Rebecca St., with 66 cases in residents and one in an employee. One person has died.

Meanwhile, someone who works at a stall at the Hamilton Farmers' Market tested positive for COVID-19.

The individual last worked on April 30 and is currently in self-isolation, stated the city and the market in a joint release.

Although the individual was working with the appropriate face mask and had physical distancing measures in place, the City of Hamilton, the owner of the facility where the market is located, and the Hamilton Farmers' Market are advising the community of the positive test result out of an abundance of caution," stated the release.

A thorough cleaning has occurred and there is no interruption to hours of operation, the release states.

An outbreak at Goulet Cleaning in Waterdown is now over. Five staff were infected.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com