Ontario plans to move Hamilton into lockdown again, starting Monday

The province plans to send Hamilton back to lockdown as of Monday. 

A news release from the Ministry of Health says Hamilton will move from "red-control" into the "grey-lockdown" zone of the provincial government's COVID-19 framework after the weekend.

That lockdown would be effective on March 29 at 12:01 a.m.

The decision to move into grey was made in consultation with the local medical officer of health and was based on public health data, says the media release. 

"Over the last week, we have continued to see some concerning trends in key health indicators in regions across the province," said Minister of Health Christine Elliott.

"As we cautiously make targeted adjustments to public health measures to support the well-being of individuals and small business owners, it is critical that everyone remains vigilant and continues to strictly follow all public health measures and advice to keep each other safe."

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said he was "disappointed like anyone else and everyone else could be."

"These are difficult decisions to make," he said. 

He pointed to the rising number of COVID-19 variants in the community. As of Friday, there are 11 cases confirmed as variants of concern and 581 other that screened positive, but are pending confirmation.

"It's kind of hard to argue that we shouldn't be there," he said of the lockdown. 

Huge blow to business

On Thursday, the city's medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson questioned if a Hamilton lockdown alone — versus a broader geographic area — would have a strong enough effect.

"At this point, I'm not convinced a move into grey will give us a significant impact in terms of severe disease and mortality. It will have an impact on business in terms of what happens to them," she said, noting more measures were required if the situation worsened. 

Paul Johnson, director of the city's emergency operations centre, said the decision is ultimately a provincial one. But it wasn't shocking, he said, considering Hamilton was on that "knife edge" of the framework with numbers steadily heading in the wrong direction.

The change, he said, is a "huge blow" to businesses, and it places stresses on individuals and their families. But it doesn't "pay to be combative with each other," and time will be spent on vaccine roll out and driving those numbers down.

"The fact that we're not going to spend a lot of time arguing about this is not for an instant to say that we don't feel very badly for those who are impacted by this decision," Johnson said.

"We want to get out of this as soon as is humanly possible to support our business community and support people's mental health and physical health."

He said Hamilton was once "flirting" on the edge of the red and orange categories. Now, the weekly rate of new cases per 100,000 people is almost three times as many at 116. 

765 active cases

Hamilton reported 122 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. According to the city's database, Hamilton has seen 12,286 total cases of the virus, of which 765 cases are active and 11,020 people have recovered. 

One more person in their 70s has died, bringing total deaths to 305.

If approved, Hamilton would be one of two health units changing zones on Monday. The other is the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, which would move to red. 

What 'lockdown' means

In "grey-lockdown", there are no indoor organized public events and social gatherings. People who live alone can consider having contact with another household. 

Organized outdoor events and social gatherings are limited at 10 people with physical distancing.

But the move also comes as the province continues to loosen restrictions in the zone. 

While indoor dining is prohibited in lockdown, Ontario made the recent change to allow for outdoor dining. Also permitted are take out, drive thru and delivery.

People can only be seated with members of their same households, with limited exceptions for caregivers and people who live alone. 

As of February, the grey zone allows for in-person retail shopping, subject to capacity limits. The limit is 50 per cent capacity for supermarkets and stores that primarily sell groceries, as well as convenience stores and pharmacies.

For other retail — including discount and big box retailers, liquor stores, cannabis stores, hardware stores and garden centres — it's 25 per cent.

Casinos are closed. 

Upcoming changes

Here are a few changes that are pending approval, which would come into effect Monday:

One change to lockdown would allow for marinas and boating clubs to operate clubhouses or any restaurant, bar and other food or drink establishment for outdoor dining. 

A second change would also allow for outdoor fitness classes, outdoor training for team and individual sports and outdoor personal training. This would have a limit of 10 people. 

The province is also modifying capacity limits for wedding, funeral and religious services, rites or ceremonies at all zone levels. It said it will "allow for the number of individuals that can maintain two metres of physical distance." That doesn't apply to social gatherings associated with those services, like receptions. 

"People are tired," said Premier Doug Ford of the changes in a media briefing on Friday. "But please do it very carefully, that's all we're asking."

The third change to lockdown, proposed to come into effect on Monday, April 12, would allow personal care services like barber shops, hair and nail salons, and tattoo parlours to run at a limited capacity by appointment only. 

Until then, those businesses aren't allowed to open.

With Easter and spring break for schools coming up, Johnson said, the message remains the same: to do the things required to pull case numbers down. 

"There isn't magic here," he said and stressed the need to keep physical distancing, wash hands regularly, not share items with others, wear a mask, and stay home when sick.

Hamilton outbreaks

There are four new outbreaks, including  École élémentaire Pavillon de la jeunesse, St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Elementary School, Mission Services of Hamilton, and Macassa Lodge. 

The outbreak at Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre has been declared as over. There were 73 people infected, including 20 staff and 53 inmates. 

Two more residents at Abington Court Retirement Residence have tested positive, bringing the outbreak to seven people. 

Two staff members have tested positive as part of the St. Peter's Hospital 3W outbreak. Three patients also have the virus.

The Nesting Nook Daycare and Nursery is up to four patrons and one staff member. 

Hamilton's hospitals are currently caring for over 100 COVID-19 patients. St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is caring for 27 people, and HHS is caring for 90 others. 

Brant

Brant recorded 11 new cases in the past 24 hours. There are 63 active cases in the county, according to data online. 

There have been 1,732 cases since March 2020 and 13 deaths. Two people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

A total of 1,656 cases have been marked as resolved.

There have been 22,688 doses of the vaccine administered. 

Haldimand-Norfolk

The counties of Haldimand and Norfolk have recorded 1,588 cases throughout the pandemic. There are 74 active cases.

There have been 39 deaths that are considered COVID-related, and 1,470 people who have recovered. 

There have been 17,813 doses of the vaccine administered. 

Niagara

Niagara reported 61 new cases of the virus on Thursday. The region has seen 9,387 cases over the course of the pandemic, including 412 that are active and 8,600 that are resolved.

There have been 375 people who have died. 

Seven cases in the region have been identified as a variant of concern — B117, which originated in the U.K. There are 252 other cases that have screened positive, but are pending confirmation. 

There have been 19,627 doses of the vaccine administered in Niagara. 

Niagara Region Public Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in student residences at Brock University, says a media release. There are 12 cases part of the outbreak. 

Brock University is now in "Brock Stage 1" or lockdown. That means the few classes being offered on campus have moved online until at least Monday, April 5. 

James A. Gibson Library, Computer Commons and all athletic facilities will be temporarily closed. 

The region says the outbreak is centred around the "social activities of students." Numerous students living in Brock residents are now isolating in on-campus, self-contained quarantine residence units. 

The release says there has been no exposure to the upcoming vaccination clinic site.

Halton

The number of COVID-19 cases in Halton rose by 69 on Friday for a total of 10,628 so far.

Data indicates 334 of those cases are active and 10,094 are resolved.

Thirteen of the new cases were in Burlington, which has seen 2,675 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. There are 84 active cases in the city. 

There have been 200 deaths in the region, of which 49 were in Burlington. 

There have been 67,563 vaccine doses administered as of Friday.

Six Nations

Six Nations of the Grand River has recorded 11 active cases of COVID-19 as of Friday. There have been 437 total cases, and 418 are resolved. Eight people have died. 

Two people with the virus are in hospital. Six Nations is in alert level orange of its colour-coded framework.