Hamilton Health Sciences stops taking out-of-region COVID patients

As the city enters the third wave of the pandemic, hospitals in the area are starting to feel pressure on their capacity. A Hamilton Health Sciences memo sent to staff on Wednesday says the system will no longer accept out-of-region COVID-19 patients until "hospital capacity pressures subside These referrals are now being redirected to other hospital facilities with available capacity."

The memo says the HHS system is feeling particular pressure at its acute adult sites, where the occupancy rates and numbers of patients waiting for a bed is increasing, as are surgery deferrals. Surgeons have been asked to proceed with "same-day" cases only, deferring those that require admission.

On Thursday, Hamilton Public Health reported 65 new COVID-19 cases and two new deaths, bringing the city's total cases to 12,164, with 705 of those active.

There are new outbreaks at Flamborough Baptist Church Waterdown, the Nesting Nook daycare in Binbrook, Extendicare Hamilton and Westview Elementary School, according to public health. The Viamonde school board is also reporting an outbreak at Hamilton's Pavillon de la Jeunesse school which has four cases in students and two in staff although that outbreak is not listed on the public health website.

Hamilton water meter worker tests positive

The City of Hamilton says a contractor who was conducting in-home water meter replacements has tested positive for COVID-19, saying it was made aware of the result late Wednesday. It says the contractor was conducting home visits March 15 to 19 in Dundas, Greensville and West Hamilton, visiting seven to nine homes per day.

"Although the contractor was wearing an N-95 mask and other appropriate personal protective equipment while inside residents' homes, the City is advising residents out of an abundance of caution," states a release.

City has vaccinated 11.4% of Phase 1

Hamilton Public Health has vaccinated 11.4 per cent of the eligible population and counting but it could be doing more if it had a better supply of vaccines to administer, says the city's medical officer of health.

"Supply has absolutely been the issue," said Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, at a city council general issues committee meeting Wednesday. In the early days of vaccinating, Hamilton was getting 5,000 doses a week, which she said is small compared to the number of people eligible. "There's certainly not enough vaccine to run all of the sites all of the time."

Councillors said residents were frustrated after showing up at clinic sites without appointments in the hopes of being vaccinated, only to find the clinics had closed. Coun. Arlene VanderBeek (Ward 13, Dundas) said she was frustrated when she announced that a vaccine clinic would be happening in her area, and then it didn't happen. Coun. Judi Partridge (Ward 15, Flamborough) said there was a similar frustration with Harry Howell Arena, where people showed up just hoping to get vaccinated.

Richardson said she knows people are eager, and the city is vaccinating people as quickly as possible, while getting a limited number of doses. That's why it has had rotating clinics rather than all of the clinics open all of the time.

The city says it has so far administered about 74,709 doses of COVD-19 vaccine.

Its mobile vaccination team will be administering COVID-19 vaccinations to those aged 75+ at the pop-up vaccination clinics listed below. To book an appointment, visit hamilton.ca/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine-booking.

The following clinics will be operational on March 31 and April 1, 2, 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.:

• Stoney Creek:Saltfleet Community Centre.
• Glanbrook/Mount Hope: Municipal Service Centre.
• Ancaster: Ancaster Rotary Club.
• Dundas: Dundas Community Centre.
• Waterdown/Flamborough: Harry Howell Arena.

Here's the overall timeline:

December 2020 to March 2021 (Phase 1)

Congregate living for seniors, health-care workers, adult chronic home care recipients, adults in First Nations, Mtis and Inuit populations, and people older than 80.

April 2021 to July 2021 (Phase 2)

Adults aged 60 to 79, starting with the oldest first; high-risk congregate settings such as shelters and community living, individuals with high-risk chronic conditions and their caregivers, people who cannot work from home, and at-risk populations.

July 2021 onwards (Phase 3)

Everyone else.

Halton

Starting Friday, Halton residents aged 70 or older can book an appointment to attend a vaccination clinic. Appointments can be booked through Halton's online booking system, not the province's booking system. If you need help, call 311.

There are six clinics in the region, and the Burlington one is at Joseph Brant Hospital.

The region reported 58 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the total number to 10,559. There were no new deaths.

Haldimand-Norfolk

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit has launched a waiting list for people aged 70 to 74 (born 1946 to 1951) to book appointments for when there are last-minute cancellations or no shows. The health unit is currently focusing on people aged 80 or older, followed by the waiting list of people aged 75 to 79.

If you are 80 or older, or in a phase one priority group, you can book an appointment by calling 519-427-5903 or emailing vaccine@hnhss.ca.

Right now, all appointments to receive second doses have been cancelled, and the health unit says not to call to reschedule. When you are eligible to re-book your second dose, you will be notified. For more information, visit the website.

Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit reported eight new cases of the virus on Thursday, bringing its total count to 1,575. There were no new deaths.

Brant/Brantford

The Brant County Health Unit is booking appointments for adults aged 72 or older on its website. Don't book an appointment yet unless you were born in 1949 or earlier.

Those who received their first doses between Feb. 15 and March 19 should book their second dose now.

The clinics are at One Market on the Wilfrid Laurier Brantford campus (1 Market St., Brantford) and the Paris Fairground (139 Silver St., Paris).

Brant reported 19 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and no new deaths. Its total case count is 1,721.

Niagara

As of this week, adults older than 75 can now book appointments online through the province's booking system, or by calling 1-888-999-6488. There are rotating clinics in each of Niagara's municipalities, with today's clinic at the Niagara Centre YMCA in Welland.

The region is currently booking residents in the phase one priority group, and people over age 75.

Niagara Region reported 25 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total number to 9,328. The death toll from the virus in Niagara is 375.

Six Nations

Six Nations of the Grand River is reporting 12 active cases on Thursday with one person currently hospitalized. The community has seen 436 cases altogether.