COVID-19 in Hamilton stable, with most numbers in decline

Hamilton Public Health is declaring COVID-19 transmission in Hamilton to be moderate and stable, with most of the underlying numbers on the way down.

The seven-day average for new cases dropped to 24 from 28 and 29 the previous two reporting periods, the weekly incidence rate (per 100,000 people) fell to 29 (from 33 and 34) and the number of COVID patients in intensive care units remained at zero.

Hospital admissions are up a tick to 0.9 on a seven-day average from last week’s 0.6 but down from the one-a-day average from two weeks ago. The per cent positivity rate is also up slightly to 19.1 per cent (from 18.0 per cent and 18.8 per cent), as are the number of outbreaks at long term care homes, hospitals and retirement centres: 19 vs 12 and 16.

Wastewater sampling results for influenza are up a bit as well for Influenza A, while traces of the ‘B’ virus have not been reported from Hamilton’s two plants since June 20.

New cases of the flu (7-day average) are stable at 14.4 – the number was 15.6 and 13.0 per day the last two reporting periods – and the per cent positivity is down to 12.2 per cent, from 19.1 per cent and 14.0 per cent.

RSV test positivity has decreased to 2.9 per cent (from 3.6 per cent and 4.1 per cent), while wastewater sampling has been stable and the number of outbreaks is down two from last week’s seven.