Women suffering domestic violence 'struggling' to reach out for support during pandemic

Women trapped at home with violent partners have been "struggling" to reach out tothe Hamilton's shelters for help, but providing support during a pandemic can be a challenge.

Good Shepherd has been contacted aboutdomestic abuse by phone and email, said CEOBrother Richard MacPhee, but COVID-19 presents obstacles forboth those seeking assistance and the staff trying to provide it.

Those looking for a way out facea difficult decision:"does she stay where she is and know she's at least safe from the COVID virus ...at the same time she finds herself not necessarily safe from her partner," he explained.

Vulnerable youth in the city are facing the same struggle, MacPhee said during a town hall about the virus Wednesday.

Support for vulnerable populations was the focus of the weekly virtual update, where the officials also discussed how the city is working with homeless residents.

About 75 menare currently staying at the FirstOntario Centre, said MacPhee, while families and women continue to stay in overflow beds at hotels.

The fight against the virus for some of the city's most-vulnerable includes testing at shelters as well as a directingboth staff and clients to wear masks at shelter facilities.

Only two people have tested positive for COVID-19 and spent time at the city's isolation centre for the homeless. It was empty Wednesday evening.

"We've done a good job, said MacPhee. "We've been able to keep the virus out of the shelters.We have done great things."

A 'spotlight' on housing crisis

The virus has put a "big spotlight" on Hamilton's housing crisis, acknowledged Grace Mater, director of children's services and neighbourhood development.

The city is focusing on an individualized approach tohelping those living rough inencampments find permanent housing, she added, noting the virus has helped spread the message more housing is needed.

"We've had a lot of private housing groups reach out to us as well to talk about opportunities," Mater said."We're trying to use this as a bit of an opportunity to find out what is available and how can we best tap into it."

Hamilton hit 495 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Wednesday.

Five other cases are considered probable, bringing the total for the city to 500.

Eighteen tests have showed false positives three at Wentworth Lodge, three at Heritage Green, one at St. Elizabeth's Villa, one at First Place and 10 at Macassa Lodge. The city says itstotalexcludes allfalse positives.

Twenty-five people have died, including an 81-year-old woman who passed away on May 11, according to Dr. ELizabeth Richardson, the city's medical officer of health.

Meanwhile, 366 (73 per cent) have recovered.

Niagara

Health officials in the Niagara say 416 people have recovered from COVID-19.

The area saw another small increase in cases as of noon Wednesday, hitting a total of 563 cases, but only 92 are still active. Fifty-five people have died.

Health care workers make up just under 23 per cent of the total number of cases so far, showstatistics from public health.

Residents at long-term care and retirement homes make up another 28.4 per cent of cases, while representing nearly 82 per cent of deaths in the region.

Six health-care facilities are currently in outbreak, including at Niagara Health's St. Catharinesand Greater Niagara hospitals, The Henley House, Royal Rose Place, Lundy Manor and Seasons Welland.

Brant

Brant/Brantford has held steady at102 cases for the past four days.Of those, three have died and 90recovered. Six people are currently in the hospital.

Haldimand-Norfolk

Haldimand and Norfolk counties added two more cases Wednesday, rising to a total of 203 lab-confirmed cases.

Seventy-seven people have recovered from the virus and 30 people have died, according to health and social services.

Halton

Three more people in the Halton Region have recovered from COVID-19 for a total of 454 recoveries so far.

Health officials also reported six new confirmed cases Wednesday, resulting in a total of 591 cases (524 confirmed, 67 probable).

Twenty-four people have died, seven of whom lived in Burlington, which has a total of 115 cases.

The Waterford Long Term Care residence in Oakville, where two residents have tested positive,is the site of the only ongoing institutional outbreak in the region.