No large COVID outbreaks for first time in 2022

Hamilton’s hospitals are easing visitor restrictions as a further sign of their recovery from Omicron.

St. Joseph’s Healthcare was down to six COVID-19 patients Monday, including one in the intensive care unit (ICU). Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) was treating 54, including five in the ICU. It’s a significant decrease from a combined high of 309 on Jan. 17, including 38 in the ICU.

During that same time, the number of hospital staff self-isolating has dropped to 206 from 1,032.

None of the city’s five active outbreaks Monday were in hospitals, compared to 21 on Jan. 14.

Hamilton also has no large ongoing outbreaks in high-risk settings for the first time in 2022. The last large outbreak has been declared over at Alexander Place Long-Term Care in Waterdown, where 70 were infected and two died since Jan. 1.

The largest ongoing outbreak is 11 cases since Feb. 21 at Indwell Supportive Living.

However, there are still signs of COVID strain in Hamilton. The city reported the death of a resident in their 50s on Monday — the 13th COVID fatality of a Hamiltonian this age. Over the pandemic, 24 residents age 20 to 59 have died.

Two COVID deaths were also reported Friday of residents in their 70s. The pandemic toll now sits at 527 fatalities.

HHS is still struggling with severe overcrowding, with occupancy at 110 per cent at Juravinski Hospital and 104 per cent at Hamilton General Hospital. Ideal is up to 90 per cent.

But the situation has improved enough that HHS said in a statement it was able to open up further due to “evidence of decreased community prevalence of COVID-19, including declining hospital admissions, high rates of vaccination among citizens, zero outbreaks and much lower rates of staff absence.”

Both HHS and St. Joseph’s now allow in-patients up to two visitors per day and they can be there at the same time.

The city reported the death of a resident in their 50s on Monday — the 13th COVID fatality of a Hamiltonian this age