COVID-19: Hamilton records 5 more deaths as LTC outbreaks worsen

Hamilton’s Public Health Services (PHS) are reporting the death of five local seniors which are related to several active COVID-19 outbreaks across the city.

On Thursday (Dec. 10), a spokesperson from PHS confirmed that the city’s death toll had climbed to 107 after five people died earlier this week.

One woman in her late 90s who was a resident of Chartwell Willowgrove, a woman in her early 90s and a man in his mid-80s who were residents of St. Joseph’s Villa and a woman in her early 90s from Grace Villa passed away on Tuesday (Dec. 8). A man in his early 90s, who was connected to the outbreak at Juravinski Hospital, passed away on Wednesday.

Hamilton also recorded 81 newly confirmed cases on Thursday, bringing the total number to 3,905, with 3,148 (81 per cent) having been resolved.

Four new outbreaks in the community have been declared as well: one at Alexander Place where a staff member has tested positive, another at All Tool Manufacturing where three workers tested positive, and Sterling Honda where four employees have tested positive and another at Shalom Village Nursing Home where one resident and two staff members have confirmed cases.

There are currently 26 active COVID-19 outbreaks occurring in Hamilton — 14 of those are LTCs — and 620 active cases of the virus in the community.

The outbreaks at several long-term care facilities continue to grow: as of Thursday, Grace Villa has reported 126 cases (76 residents and 50 staff), Chartwell Willowgrove, an outbreak that was declared in late October, has seen 94 cases (59 residents, 33 staff).

Hamilton hospitals are currently treating 47 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19.

According to data shared on the province’s website, there are 75 cases of the virus among staff and students at 40 schools across Hamilton.

Meanwhile, Ontario reported a record 1,983 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday and 35 new deaths due to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said 515 cases were in Peel Region, 496 in Toronto, and 208 in York Region.

— with a file from The Canadian Press