COVID-19 Update: Updates from the City of Hamilton - Jan. 11, 2021

HAMILTON, ON - Earlier today, Mayor Fred Eisenberger joined Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health, and the City’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Director, Paul Johnson to update media and the community on the City’s response to COVID-19.

As of 9 a.m. this morning, there are a total of 7,474 cases, an increase of 155 positive cases from yesterday, and 202 deaths from COVID-19 in Hamilton.  We are also reporting that of the 7,474 cases, 5680 or 76 % are resolved. More details about cases are available on the City’s website including demographics, risk factors, exposure, etc.

Extension of Emergency Child Care

As part of the current Provincial shutdown measures remote learning for school-aged elementary school students in Southern Ontario has been extended to January 25, 2021.  As schools remain closed for in-person learning for elementary students, the Ministry of Education and the City of Hamilton is providing targeted free emergency child care for the school aged children of designated essential front line and heath care workers. 

During this period, emergency child care is available for designated essential workers, as defined by the Provincial eligibility requirements, who are not able to accommodate their school-aged child’s learning or care at home. The Ministry of Education expanded the list of eligible workers to include those working with vulnerable populations, maintaining food, hydro and water systems, those supporting court and public safety operations and education staff that are required to attend schools in person to support children with special needs that cannot be accommodated through remote learning. A complete and updated list of eligible frontline and health care workers is available on the City website by visiting www.hamilton.ca/childcare 

Emergency child care is being provided by the three licensed home child care agencies in Hamilton. For more information on accessing this care, please contact one of the following agencies:

• Today’s Family, [email protected], (905) 574-9344 ext. 112
• Wee Watch Galbraith, [email protected], (905) 561-0008
• Wee Watch Golfwood, [email protected], (905) 574-5409 ext. 203

Licensed child care for children aged 0 to 3.8 years will continue during this period.

Winter in Hamilton: Frosty Fun!

As part of the City’s “Winter in Hamilton” program, the Recreation Division launched “Frosty Fun”, a series of special outdoor activities and virtual programs for residents to safely enjoy throughout the winter season. Beginning today, residents can enjoy “Frosty Fun” in a variety of ways:

• Self-Directed Activities – Stay active and explore the community safely outdoors by participating in Winter Disc Golf, Snow Shoe Lending, Nordic Pole Lending and Story Walks (presented in partnership with Hamilton Public Library). Reservations are required.
• Take Home Kits – Beginning the week of January 11, the City will start distributing “take home kits” at select locations in the community, while supplies last. Kits include crafts and activities that children can take and do at home. Each week will feature a new kit to take home and enjoy, with four different kits in total.
• Virtual Programming – Free activities such as trivia, puzzles and games residents can play in the comfort of their home. Seniors’ Centre Without Walls (SCWW) is designed for older adults while Virtual Scavenger Hunts are customized for youth ages 13 to 17.

“Winter in Hamilton” is an online collection of outdoor activities, sports and other safe things for residents to do outside this winter. Activities include Winter Golf, Outdoor Skating, Tobogganing and taking advantage of parks, trails and Escarpment stairs. More in person programs and events will be added as permitted within Provincial guidelines and Public Health directives. Visit www.hamilton.ca/Winter and www.hamilton.ca/FrostyFun.

Outdoor Skating Rinks Reminder
Residents are reminded that the City has four outdoor skating rinks with maintained ice surfaces. Space on the ice is limited to 25 skaters at a time (some rinks have lower limits based on their size). Masks or face coverings are strongly encouraged for skaters. Skaters and spectators are required to maintain 2m or 6ft of physical distance from others outside their household. The rinks are open between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily, but residents are reminded to keep off the ice outside the hours of operation. Reservations for City ice rinks are required. Find more info at www.hamilton.ca/winter.

“With our daily COVID-19 cases on the rise, now is not the time to relax on public health recommendations including restricting all social gatherings to only immediate household members, wearing a mask, physically distancing yourself from others and washing your hands. The health of everyone in our community remains at stake.  Please stay home as much as possible for our families, for our frontline and essential workers, for our health care system and for our neighbours.”

-Mayor Fred Eisenberger

Additional Resources

• hamilton.ca/coronavirus
• hamilton.ca/COVIDvaccines
• covid-19.ontario.ca
• Public Health Services’ COVID-19 Hotline: 905-974-9848 or [email protected]