Hamilton, down to one outbreak, has 19 more COVID-19 cases

Hamilton was down to one active COVID-19 outbreak Saturday as the city continued its vaccine rollout over the weekend.

The city recorded 19 more cases of the virus Saturday, marking 21 consecutive days of 35 or fewer new cases. The seven-day average for new cases is 16.

The sole remaining outbreak was at Meadowlands Preschool and Daycare in Ancaster, where two children tested positive for the virus.

Outbreaks at Bristo Vie in Dundas (two staff cases) and Dundas Retirement Place (two staff, two residents and one death) were declared over.

Just a month ago, there were 751 active cases and 41 outbreaks across Hamilton.

On Saturday, the city noted 135 active cases, part of the cumulative total of 21,226 since the pandemic struck in March 2020. Roughly 95 per cent of those people have recovered.

So far, nearly 73 per cent of Hamilton adult residents have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine while roughly 27 per cent have been fully inoculated, the city says.

On Saturday, local youngsters aged 12 to 17 were able to start booking accelerated second doses through the provincial online portal or participating pharmacies.

On Monday, starting at 8 a.m., people 18 or older who have received their first dose of an mRNA vaccine - Moderna or Pfizer - can book their second appointments for 28 days after their first inoculation.

For more booking information, visit the city's website at www.hamilton.ca/VaccineBooking or reach the provincial call centre at 1-888-999-6488.

For a list of pharmacies offering vaccinations, visit covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations.

Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com