Councillor says restaurants asked to be locked down because of COVID-19 restrictions

Acity councillor says he's received an "eye-popper" of a request from restaurants across Hamilton asking if there's any way they could be shut down.

The eateries are requesting"believe it or not, they could be put in lockdown," said Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr during Wednesday's council meeting.

Hamilton is currently in the red "control" zone of the province's COVID-19 framework, which limits restaurants to a maximum of 10 patrons indoors.

Other rules include that people must be seated, tables must be separated by at least two metres or by a barrier and that only four people can sit together.

Outdoor dining, take out, drive-thrus and delivery arestill permitted.

Based on the requirements, Farr said restaurants have determined they'd be better off shut down.

That's because it would allow them to apply for enhanced wage and rent subsidies from the federal government.

It's a situationthat's reminiscent of the circumstances facing other business owners, such as Hamilton tattoo shop Vagabond Saints, where the owners havequestioned why the government would allow them to stay open, then tell people not to go there.

"Clearly, in this case, larger restaurants are telling us that it'smuch safer, at this time for their business to be in lockdown in terms of the bottom line," said Farr, askingif it's possible for restaurants to be locked down locally.

Paul Johnson, director of Hamilton's emergency operations centre, said medical officers of health, including Dr. Elizabeth Richardson,have been granted some authorityto addregulations around COVID-19, but considering a proposal like the councillor raised would come with legal considerations.

"That is something [Richardson]could explore at some level, but there would have to be some rationale for it," he said, noting the medical officer of health has so far not found it necessary to add extra regulations for restaurants.

Farr followed up by asking whether a local lockdownaimed ata specific industry would qualify businesses for government support.

Johnson said he'dhave to follow up with the federal government, but noted that at the provincial level businesses only qualify for relief as a result of a provincial order.

Order issued to Hamilton Continuing Care

Public health says an order has been issued to Hamilton Continuing Care (HCC) to allow staff from St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton to enter the facility in order to monitor and investigate the outbreak there.

Forty-three people connected to the home (28 residents and 15 staff members) hadtested positive as of Wednesday.

Officials are in daily contact with HCC, which is complying with the order, according to public health spokesperson Jacqueline Durlov.

"There was ongoing evidence or transmission with ongoing concerns, despite education," she wrote in an email explaining the reason for the order.

In a statement about COVID-19 on its website, Schlegel Villages, which runs the home, says the safety of its residents, their loved ones and staff is the company's top priority.

Remote student at HWDSB tests positive

Hamilton's public school board is reporting one more student case of COVID-19.

The student was a remote learner at an elementary school who tested positive on Tuesday, according to the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board's list of confirmed cases.

28new cases in Hamilton, 3 new outbreaks

There were just 28new positive tests reported by public health early Wednesday evening, making the cumulative total2,797 since March. That is the second day in a row there haven't been more than 30 cases.

There are 338people who are actively infected.

There are three new outbreaks, for a total of 19 across the city.

Rygiel Supports for Community Living has an infected staff member.Golden Auto Service has four infected employeesandRed Hill Orthodonticshas two infected workers.

The outbreak atAmica Dundas is over according to public health.

Chartwell Willowgrove is still the largest active outbreak with 80 cases (53 residents, 27 staff).

Hamilton hospitals are treating22COVID-19 patients and2,373cases have been resolved.

Eighty-one deaths have been connected to the virus.

Niagara

Niagara has seen a total of 2,037 cases since the pandemic began.

Of those, 208 were active Wednesday and 1,756 resolved.

Eighty-three people with the virus have died and 19 outbreaks are ongoing.

Among the cases is a staff member at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Niagara Falls whohas tested positive for COVID-19.

Loblaw posted online about the infected worker on Wednesday.

The store is on Montrose Road.

"The last day the team member worked was on Nov. 22," reads the notice. "In these cases, we work closely with public health and follow their guidance to ensure proper notification of close contacts and required cleaning and sanitization in our stores."

Brant

Five new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in Brant in the past 24 hours, according to the county's website.

Brant and Brantford have tallied 461 confirmed cases, including 389 that are recovered and 67 that are active.

Five people have died.

Halton

The number of cases in Halton rose by 28 Wednesday for a total of 3,333 (both confirmed and probable).

Data from health officials shows2,709 have recovered and 570 were active Wednesday.

Fifty-four people who had COVID-19 have died.

Haldimand-Norfolk

Haldimand-Norfolk have reported 629 positive cases throughout the pandemic.

Thirty-five of those cases are active and 557 recovered.

Thirty-two deaths in the counties are considered COVID-related.