COVID-19: Outbreak declared at Hamilton gym as newly confirmed local cases up by 18

Published October 6, 2020 at 4:48 pm

An outbreak has been declared at a downtown Hamilton gym after two patrons and one staff member have tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the City of Hamilton’s coronavirus website, the outbreak at SPINCO Hamilton on James North was declared Monday (Oct. 5).

On Tuesday (Oct. 6), Hamilton is reporting 18 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community, bringing the city’s overall case count to 1,228.

Hamilton’s death toll is up to 47 after the city confirmed a 68-year-old man died in hospital over the weekend.

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The number of resolved cases is up to 1,060, accounting for approximately 86 per cent of local cases.

According to the city’s data, there are 114 known active cases in the community at the moment.

To date, 84,798 COVID-19 tests have been completed at Hamilton’s COVID-19 assessment centres.

Meanwhile, Ontario is reporting 548 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday and seven new deaths due to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said 201 cases are in Toronto, 90 in Peel Region and 62 in Ottawa.

Elliott says 61 per cent of Tuesday’s cases are in people under the age of 40.

The province says it has a backlog of 55,483 tests, and has conducted 42,031 tests since the last daily report.

It also reported 74 new COVID-19 cases related to schools, including at least 41 among students.

There are no new cases associated with Hamilton schools being reported Tuesday.

The number of schools with a reported case is up to 347 out of Ontario’s 4,828 publicly funded schools. Two schools are currently closed.

Meanwhile, Ontario began COVID-19 testing by appointment only Tuesday morning.

Premier Doug Ford has said the shift to the new system was done to prepare the province’s 155 assessment centres for winter.

The government has faced criticism over the long lines at assessment centres where people have had to wait for hours for a COVID-19 test.

The province has also changed its screening guidance, now saying that only symptomatic people or those in high-risk groups should seek out a test.

Testing centres began to close Sunday to prepare for the new model.

— with a file and photo from The Canadian Press