52 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Hamilton, along with 2 more deaths

Fifty-two more cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hamilton on Thursday and two more people who had the virus have died.

As Ontario's stay-at-home order begins, the city has tallied 13,687 cases. Of those, 849 are active cases, while nearly 90 per cent are resolved.

Three hundred and thirty-two people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.

There are 44 active outbreaks in the area. Two of those outbreaks were declared Wednesday.

Public health's website shows a staff member at Kelly's Residence, which provides supportive housing on Stinson Street, contracted the virus. Nine students and a staff member at Bellstone Christian School in Mount Hope also have COVID-19.

Hamilton's public school board is also reporting an outbreak at Strathcona Elementary School after a COVID-19 test for a second student came back positive.

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is caring for 69 patients with the virus and is at 93 per cent of its funded occupancy for adults. HHS also reports 23 staff and physicians have tested positive and 138 are self-isolating.

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton has 32 confirmed cases among its patients and three among staff and doctors. It's also at 93 per cent of its funded acute occupancy for adults.

Shots for Indigenous residents in Halton

Indigenous people living in Halton who are 18 and older will be able to get vaccinated for COVID-19 starting this Friday.

The region announced the news in a media release Thursday afternoon.

It states that anyone whose 18th birthday is on or before April 9 can sign up for their first dose, along with one person who lives in the same household and is also an adult.

The number of cases in Halton grew by 153 Thursday for a total of 713 that are active.

The region has recorded 11,811 cases so far, including 10,897 that are resolved and 201 people who have died.

Halton had administered 82,112 doses of vaccine as of April 1.

Niagara

The number of COVID-19 cases in Niagara rose by 114 Thursday, reaching 10,490 over the course of the pandemic.

Statistics shared on the region's website show 881 cases are active and 9,233 resolved — 376 people have died.

A total of 96,351 vaccine doses have been administered in Niagara so far.

Brant

Forty more cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Brantford and Brant County in the past 24 hours.

That brings the total for the area to 2,001 confirmed cases so far. That includes 182 that are active Thursday and 1,805 that are resolved.

Seven people with the virus are currently in hospital and 14 have died.

Brant has doled out 30,680 vaccine doses so far.

Haldimand-Norfolk

Haldimand-Norfolk have seen 1,747 cases so far, including 129 that are active and 1,574 that are recovered as of Thursday morning.

Thirty-nine deaths are considered COVID-19 related.

Health and Social Services Haldimand and Norfolk issued a media release Thursday acknowledging its online booking tool is down but staff are working to get it back up and running.

"Residents are asked to be patient and not leave multiple messages on the vaccine hotline regarding appointments – your call WILL be returned," it read.

In the meantime, residents 65 and older or those who have high-risk health conditions are being asked to wait until the online tool is working again, or to leave one message at the vaccine hotline.

Those 60-64 are being encouraged to add their names to the end-of-day wait list and people 55 and up are can sign up for the AstraZeneca vaccine at area pharmacies.

A total of 22,797 does of the vaccine have been administered so far.

Six Nations

Six Nations is moved to the red alert level of its COVID-19 response framework as of midnight.

That means gatherings with masks and distancing are limited to five people indoors and 10 outdoors.

Members are being asked to only travel locally, indoor dining is not available and businesses must offer contact-less service.

The community reported six active cases on Thursday. Overall, 443 cases have been confirmed, with 428 resolved.

Nine people who had the virus have died.

Six Nations has vaccinated 2,119 people, including 293 who have received two doses.