More than 500 active COVID-19 cases in Hamilton after record-setting days

Following days of reporting record amounts of new COVID-19 cases in Hamilton, the number of active cases in the city has surpassed the 500 mark. 

There are 503 people in Hamilton with the virus right now, which is an increase of 61 cases since Saturday.  

The city saw 71 and 87 new cases on Thursday and Friday, respectively, and on Saturday suffered a massive jump of 95 new cases. 

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, the city's medical officer of health, called the increases "concerning" in a statement on Friday, and cautioned that growing numbers could mean the city would move categories in the province's colour-coded system. 

"Hamilton continues to be firmly in the red – "control" category in the provincial COVID-19 response framework," she said. "Our community needs to continue to work together to lower these numbers and the transmission of disease in order to avoid moving into the grey – "lockdown" category." 

Public health has reported 3,111 total confirmed cases since March, and 2,514 of those are resolved. 

Two more people with the virus have died since Friday, bringing the total to 84. 

The average reproduction number, which reflects community spread, has increased to 1.19. This means one person with COVID-19 will spread the virus to 1.19 people. It used to be 1.18. 

"It's imperative that we work together to stop the transmission of COVID-19 in order to get the number of positive cases under control and ultimately avoid further illness and fatalities in our community," Richardson said.

There are 10 institution outbreaks, two community outbreaks, six workplace outbreaks and one school/daycare outbreak in Hamilton. The latest one at Maple Reinders Constructors Ltd. has four staff members infected. 

The largest outbreak at Chartwell Willowgrove stands at 86 cases.

Grace Villa, a long-term care home on the mountain, has expanded to 43 total cases. That includes 38 residents and five staff. 

St. Joseph's Hospital is caring for eight patients with COVID-19 as of Friday. Hamilton Health Sciences is caring for 17 patients with the virus.

Brant

There have been 10 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Brant in the past 24 hours, according to the county's website.

Brant and Brantford have tallied 498 confirmed cases, including 424 that are recovered and 69 that are active.

Five people have died.

An outbreak at Olde School Restaurant in Brantford was declared on Thursday. 

Haldimand-Norfolk

Haldimand-Norfolk have reported 654 positive cases throughout the pandemic. 

Of those, 44 are active and 573 are resolved. Thirty-two deaths in the counties are considered COVID-related.

Haldimand and Norfolk counties will enter the orange-restrict zone of the province's COVID-19 response framework on Monday.

Among various measures, the orange zone limits the hours of businesses, as well as seating and capacity at places like restaurants, movie theatres and fitness facilities. 

Niagara

The outbreak of COVID-19 at long-term care home Millennium Trail Manor in Niagara Falls was declared over on Saturday, Nov. 28.

The facility-wide outbreak had been in place since Sept. 29.

There are no active cases of the virus at the home, and there have been no new cases for more than 14 days.

"Bringing an end to the outbreak reflects the collective hard work, vigilance and commitment of everyone connected to Millennium Trail Manor, including families, residents, staff at the home and members of Niagara Health's hospital response team," said Lynn Guerriero, president of Niagara Health in a media release. 

There were 32 positive cases of COVID-19 at the home, including 16 residents and 16 staff. Three residents who tested positive for the virus died. 

The Ministry of Long-Term Care issued a mandatory management order on Oct. 27, which appointed Niagara Health to temporarily manage the home for 90 days to contain the spread of the virus. 

The temporary management still remains in effect, and Niagara Health is confident the home will return to normal operations with a safe environment for residents and staff, said Guerriero. 

In-person visiting restrictions remain in place, as Niagara is currently in the orange-restrict level of Ontario's framework, which only permits essential caregivers at long-term care homes. There are also enhanced infection prevention and control protocols in place. 

Niagara has seen a total of 2,128 cases since the pandemic began.

Of those, 203 were active on Sunday and 1,842 have been resolved.

Eighty-three people with the virus have died. There are 16 ongoing outbreaks.

Halton

There has been a total of 3,630 (both confirmed and probable) cases of COVID-19 in Halton. 

Data from health officials shows 2,845 people have recovered and 722 cases were active on Sunday.

Sixty-three people who had COVID-19 have died.

There are currently 124 active cases of the virus in Burlington.

An outbreak at Joseph Brant Hospital expanded to a second inpatient unit on Friday, said a media release, after a health care worker and two patients tested positive for the virus. 

The outbreak currently affects two units: 3 North 700 and 7 South 100. As of Nov. 27, four health care workers and six patients have been linked to the outbreak.

Two patients connected to it have died.