Hamilton hits single-day record with 201 new cases of COVID-19

Two hundred and one new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Hamilton Wednesday — the highest single-day increase the city has seen during the pandemic.

Hamilton has hit more than 200 new cases in a day before. A high of 209 was announced back in early January, but a city spokesperson said at the time that the unusually high number was due to a data lag and included cases from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4.

There are now 1,224 active cases of the virus in Hamilton, according to public health. The city has recorded a total of 14,582 cases so far.

Of those, nearly 88 per cent are resolved. Three hundred and thirty-seven people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died.

Hamilton's seven-day average for new cases is 139 — a figure public health said is "important" to focus on, rather than changes in the day-to-day case counts.

Among the new cases are two residents who have the P1 variant, which was first identified in Brazil and has been associated with increased transmissibility.

"We are very concerned about the growing number of COVID-19 cases and variant related cases as we know that at least some of the variants spread more easily and are connected to more severe disease," said medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson in an email to CBC.

"It's critical that all Hamiltonians remain vigilant and follow public health guidance and advice to protect community members from the spread of COVID-19."

There are 44 active outbreaks in the city.

Hamilton's hospitals are caring for 111 people who have COVID-19. Sixty-eight of those people are at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) and 43 are at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

HHS is at 93 per cent of its overall funded adult acute care occupancy and St. Joe's is at 89 per cent.

Hamilton's case record comes as Ontario logged 4,156 new cases of COVID-19 and reported the deaths of 28 more people with the illness on Wednesday.

Public health units have also administered a new record-high number of vaccine doses.

The Ministry of Health says that 112,817 shots of vaccines were given out yesterday, topping the previous high of about 108,563 on April 8. A total of 337,206 people in the province have received both doses of a vaccine. 

Niagara

Niagara has reported its first death under the age of 40.

The daily data update from the region showed a woman between the age of 20 and 39 who had the virus has died. There are 174 more cases of the virus in Niagara Wednesday.

The region has recorded 11,300 cases so far, including 1,213 that are active and 9,709 that are resolved.

Three hundred and seventy-eight people who had the virus have died.

Niagara has administered 116,500 doses of vaccine so far, with 3,270 new doses administered on Wednesday.

Six Nations

Six Nations of the Grand River announced that another community member who tested positive for COVID-19 has died, marking its 10th death.

Members of the elected council expressed their condolences in a media release.

"The Six Nations Elected Council sends their thoughts, prayers, and good medicine to those who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, and to all those who have been impacted by this horrible virus," it said.

There are four active cases on Six Nations territory and 121 people currently in self-isolation.

The reserve has seen 447 cases, of which 433 are resolved.

Ten people have died.

Haldimand-Norfolk

Haldimand-Norfolk also confirmed that the death of another resident has been linked to COVID-19. Forty people who lived in the area and contracted the virus have now died.

"I'd like to extend my sincerest condolences to the individual's family and friends at this difficult time," said Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, medical officer of health, in a media release.

"COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to our community, especially with the presence of variants of concern."

The two counties have reported a combined 1,880 positive cases, 191 of which are active, while 1,644 people have recovered.

The most recent vaccine update from the counties was provided on April 9 and said 24,012 doses have been administered so far.

Brant

Fifty-eight new cases of COVID-19 were logged in Brant and Brantford on Wednesday.

That brings the total for the area to 2,192 cases, including 227 that are active and 1,951 that are resolved.

Fourteen people who tested positive for the virus have died.

Dr. Elizabeth Urbantke, acting medical officer of health, said the area saw its case count rise to an "unprecedented level" last week, the highest Brant has seen during the pandemic.

Contact tracing shows many of the cases are linked to gatherings over the Easter long weekend, with variants of concern also playing a role in the rise.

"I sincerely hope that the numbers and trends we are seeing are as concerning to our residents as they are to me," she said. "Social gatherings with those outside your household are more dangerous now than they've ever been."

Brant and Brantford have administered 35,349 doses of vaccine so far.

Halton

There are 153 more cases of COVID-19 in Halton.

The region has reported 12,726 cases throughout the pandemic, including 412 considered probable as of Wednesday. Of those, 11,549 are resolved, 975 are active and 202 people who had the virus have died.

Among the cases are 1,759 that are variants of concern.