Hamilton has 30-plus active COVID-19 outbreaks, nears 100 new cases daily in 7th wave

Hamilton | COVID | Health | Latest News |

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Published July 21, 2022 at 2:06 pm

Save for one lagging indicator, all of the metrics that track COVID-19 activity in Hamilton have that vertical red arrow.

That includes a 50-per-cent biweekly jump in new cases, and a more than 70-per-cent increase in active outbreaks, and a positivity rate that is higher than it was six months ago, in the fifth wave of the pandemic. The rising case count has also helped escalated “record high” staffing shortages in both Hamilton hospital networks.

The data sources that are relied on by Hamilton Public Health Services show that the seven-day average for new cases was 93, as of Sunday (July 17). That works out to 109 per 100,000 people. Two weeks earlier on July 3, the case counts were 62 and 73 respectively.

There are 31 active outbreaks in the city, as of Tuesday (July 19). That compares to 22 seven days earlier, and 18 back on July 5.

The positivity rate was also 17.4 per cent at the most recent report, up from 15.8 seven days prior. It is nearly twice the 8.8 per cent that was recorded on June 30.

That rates also surpasses the positivity recorded near the end of the fifth wave.

The city’s hospital networks are averaging 1.6 new hospital admissions per week. But intensive-care-unit (ICU) admissions remain low at 0.1, which means one person per week. Vaccination is one way for a person to be protected from more severe health outcomes if they contract COVID-19, which is an airborne virus.

Positivity rates, case counts and wastewater samples are considered leading indicators in estimating COVID-19 activity in communuity. Admissions to ICU are known as a lagging indicator.

Last week, the Ontario government increased fourth-dose eligibility to all adults who are at least 18 years old. At that time, about 55.5 per cent of the eligible population in Hamilton was triple-vaxxed. Around 36 per cent of people 60 and over have had fourth dose.

Hamilton will open pediatric vaccine bookings for children ages 6 months to 5 years old on July 28. Health Canada recently approved a pediatric vaccine for younger children.

The Ontario government announced the July 28 rollout with a news release on Thursday. Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, did not make a media appearance on Thursday to amplify news that younger children can be vaccinated against the virus.

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