Three new COVID outbreaks, two deaths

Two men in their 90s — both living in long-term care — city’s latest casualties; currently 13 ongoing outbreaks

Hamilton reported 112 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths over the weekend.

The city saw 58 new cases on Sunday and 54 new cases on Saturday — bringing the city’s total case count to 2,701.

The two new deaths both involved men in their 90s.

One man was living at Baywoods Place, a long-term-care facility on Main Street East. He died on Nov. 19, according to public health.

The other man was living at Hamilton Continuing Care on Wentworth Street South in downtown

Hamilton. He died on Nov. 20.

Their deaths marked the 74th and 75th since the pandemic was declared in March.

Three new outbreaks were declared over the weekend.

An outbreak was declared Friday in the South Tower of St. Joseph’s Villa in Dundas after two residents and one staff member tested positive, as well as inside the Hamilton Police Service records department after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.

There is also an outbreak at Alexander Place, a long-term-care facility in Waterdown, where one staff member has tested positive for the virus.

There are currently 13 ongoing outbreaks in seniors’ residences in the city.

The largest ongoing outbreak is at the Chartwell Willowgrove facility

In the city’s hospitals, there are six COVID-19 patients at St. Joseph’s, 14 at Hamilton Health Sciences.

in Ancaster, which has seen 48 residents and 27 staff infected for a total of 75 cases.

Fourteen residents have died as of Friday.

Outbreaks at Macassa Lodge on the Mountain and the Meridian Credit Union in Stoney Creek are both over.

In the city’s hospitals, there are six COVID-19 patients at St. Joseph’s and 14 at Hamilton Health Sciences for a total of 20 — 204 people have been hospitalized in total.

There are currently 364 active cases in the city.

COVID in schools

Three new cases of COVID-19 were reported by the city’s public and Catholic boards over the weekend.

A student at Prince of Wales Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a letter to parents, principal Michael Castellani said the school was notified of the test result Friday — but the notice does not say when the student was last in school.

Castellani said school administrators have notified all families and staff that are considered to be a close contact of the case. They will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, he added.

There is also a student case at Mountainview Elementary School, although no further details were provided by the public board.

A student at Annunciation of Our Lord Catholic Elementary School has also tested positive for the virus.

They were last in the school on Monday, Nov. 2, according to a letter to parents.

The positive test result was confirmed Friday but public health has indicated there is “no risk” to the school and no school-related close contacts to the case, according to the school board.

Changes at courthouse

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice announced that effective Monday, there will be no new jury selections in any courts except for those in the Green Zone of the province’s COVID-19 recovery.

The change — which affects both Hamilton and Halton — will remain in effect until at least Jan. 4, 2021. An update on the situation is expected on Dec. 29, 2020.

Jury trials currently in progress can proceed but they are subject to the discretion of the trial judge, stated the notice.