Hamilton seeing 'some signs' of a plateau in latest COVID-19 wave, says public health

Medical officer of health Dr. Elizabeth Richardson said Monday that the city is seeing early indicators that it's reaching a plateau in the surge of Omicron cases.

"Currently we are starting to see some signs that [a plateau] is occurring, including a decrease in our per cent positivity of those being tested by PCR," she said.

Hamilton's positivity rate has decreased to 26.8 per cent from a higher 31.4 per cent with PCR tests, she said. By comparison, however, the positivity rate in late December was 8.3 per cent. 

As Ontario prepares to loosen restrictions on Jan. 31, including a return to indoor dining and reopening of gyms, the city is seeing a decrease in the number of outbreaks, as reported by the city's public health department.

The city recently declared 14 outbreaks over and eight new outbreaks in high-risk facilities in Hamilton. There are currently 80 outbreaks in high-risk facilities, the city says, compared to the 96 active outbreaks as of last week. 

Jason Thorne, director of Hamilton's emergency operations centre, said Monday that "paramedic staffing remains relatively stable" in the city, with a decline in the number of paramedics self-isolating. There are 19 staff workers isolating right now, he said. 

"While this number does continue to fluctuate, this is the lowest number of staff we've had in self-isolation since late December," he said. "So that is very good news."

Thorne also outlined the following reopening plans for some Hamilton facilities: 

• Arenas will reopen to permit holders Jan. 31, with 50-per cent capacity limits.
• Public programming will resume on a phased approach Jan. 31.
• Drop-in aquatic and gym programs at select locations reopen on Feb. 7, with schedules posted on Feb. 4.
• Water fit programs resume on Feb. 21.
• Winter golf and winter disk golf open "as early as today." 
• Seniors centres and clubs reopen Feb. 7.
• Select museums will reopen on Feb. 1

Hospitalizations remain high

While some of that data is positive, the number of people in hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) remains high, the city said. Some hospitals have been forced to transfer patients out of the city for care. 

Richardson said this is done to make sure everyone gets the best care "they possibly can," and said she's optimistic transfers will decrease with the number of hospitalizations.  

"It's something that hospitals do in consultation with their colleagues across the province… Hopefully, as things begin to come back down, we'll see that reduce over time."

As of Jan. 20, there were nearly 12 new hospitalizations each day on average, which is up from last week's 10, and more than two ICU admissions each day. There have been two deaths per day over the last week.

Vaccination reporting to include schools with younger children

Richardson said at Monday's news conference that the city's website will start to show vaccine rates coverage again by school.

That reporting will not only include rates for kids 12 to 17 years of age, as it did previously, but also children between the ages of five and 11, she said. That will start later this week. 

Of children aged 5 to 11, 13 per cent have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. That's up from 10 per cent last week, when in-person classes resumed.

In the same age range, 48 per cent have received their first dose.

The city also announced Monday that, as the number of people who need to be vaccinated decreases, its local COVID-19 vaccination program will change.

This includes the closing of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's West 5th COVID-19 vaccination clinic, and adjusted hours for the Mountain vaccine clinic at Lime Ridge Mall, and the Centre on Barton vaccine clinic.