COVID-19: Two more deaths in Hamilton as province plans further restrictions for hot spots
Published November 18, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Two more people with COVID-19 in Hamilton have died, according to the city’s public health services who confirmed the deaths on Wednesday (Nov. 18).
Hamilton Public Health Services (PHS) reported that a man in his mid-70s from Hamilton Continuing Care passed away on Monday and a woman in her late-80s from Chartwell Willowgrove, passed on Tuesday.
In less than two weeks, Hamilton has seen 24 deaths associated with the virus, bringing the local death toll to 72. Twenty-three of those deaths we people who were residents of local long-term care homes dealing with outbreaks of the virus.
Two outbreaks — one at La Garderie Le Petit Navire Daycare and another at Alexander Place Long Term Care — have been declared over as of Nov. 17, which means there are 17 active outbreaks across the city for the time being.
On Wednesday, PHS is reporting an increase of 39 newly confirmed cases in the community, bringing the total to 2,503, with 2,083 (83 per cent) having been resolved.
According to data supplied by PHS and shared on the city’s COVID-19 site, there is believed to be 343 active cases in the community at the moment, with Hamilton’s hospitals treating 13 people with the virus at the moment.
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Assessment centres in Hamilton have carried out 122,055 COVID-19 tests as 23,984 COVID-19 tests have been completed at other facilities.
According to data shared on the province’s website, there are currently 40 cases of the virus among staff and students in 27 schools in both boards across the city.
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that some of the province’s hot spots will see further public health measures come into effect on Friday (Nov. 20).
Ford said the new measures, which will be announced on Friday, are necessary because the case counts in Toronto, Peel and York regions are rising and hospitals are reaching capacity.
“The virus is spreading at alarming rates in these areas,” the premier told a news conference. “Right now, we’re staring down the barrel of another lockdown in these regions.”
Ford issued the stark warning after Ontario reported 1,417 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and 32 new deaths due to the virus.
The province said 463 new cases are in Peel Region, 410 cases are in Toronto, and 178 are in York Region.
— with a file and photo from The Canadian Press
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