COVID-19 Update: Updates from the City of Hamilton - Oct. 26, 2020

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 today, there are a total of 1698 cases, an increase of 37 positive cases from yesterday and 48 deaths from COVID-19 in Hamilton.  We are also reporting that of the 1698 cases, 1484 or 87% are resolved. More details about cases are available on the City’s website including demographics, risk factors, exposure, etc.

Celebrating Halloween in Hamilton

The City of Hamilton is encouraging residents to stay home and celebrate Halloween in different ways this year. Avoid attending parties/gatherings with others who live outside your household to limit the spread of COVID-19.

If you are handing out treats this year, follow Public Health measures to stay safe:

• Wear a non-medical mask that fully covers your nose, mouth and chin.
• Set up a trick or treating station outside, using a table to place treats on to maintain distancing.
• Portion treats out ahead of time to prevent contact & use tongs to hand out.  Do not leave out self-serve bowls of bulk candy.
• If you hand out treats indoors, place a sign on your door asking trick-or-treaters to knock instead of ringing the doorbell.
• Wash or sanitize hands frequently.
• Stay 2 metres away from trick-or-treaters.
• Build a candy slide, candy catapult or other fun, non-touch delivery methods.

If you are trick-or-treating this year, follow Public Health measures to stay safe:

• Minimize contact with others: trick-or-treat only with those who you live with and stay two metres apart from all others.
• Only trick-or-treat outside.
• Wash hands before eating candy.
• Choose a costume that allows a non-medical mask to be worn underneath and that allows you to easily wash your hands.
• Wash your hands before and after trick or treating and bring hand sanitizer with you.
• Avoid touching doorbells or railings, knock instead of using doorbells, use hand sanitizer after touching surfaces.
• Line up 2 metres apart if waiting for treats.
• Outline a plan with older children who are trick-or-treating on their own, including how to avoid situations such as crowded door steps or joining with other groups and talking about the number of homes they can visit.
• Remember the usual Halloween safety tips – dress for the weather, wear reflectors, watch for traffic, and check treats before eating

Thank you for doing your part this Halloween by celebrating safely. For more information, visit: www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus/celebrations-during-covid-19

Special guests for City’s Virtual Town Hall this week

On Thursday night, Mayor Fred Eisenberger will be joined by Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health, and Paul Johnson, the City’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Director, to answer questions from the community as part of the COVID-19 Virtual Town Hall series.

This week, the City welcomes two special guests to the panel:

• Alex Johnstone, Chair of the Board for the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board
• Patrick Daly, Chair of the Board for the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board

Residents are invited to submit questions for the virtual town hall by:

• Tagging @cityofhamilton on Twitter
• Sending an email to [email protected]
• By phone to 905-645-3232 (during the show)

Tune into the town hall in one of the following ways:

• WATCH on the City’s YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/insidecityofhamilton
• WATCH on Cable 14, on TV or Online: www.cable14now.com
• LISTEN on 900 CHML Radio

The COVID-19 virtual town halls will continue every other Thursday at 7 pm for the next several weeks:   

• Thursday, October 29.
• Thursday, November 12
• Thursday, November 26
• Thursday, December 10

“Halloween is upon us and our Public Health teams have provided guidelines for both handing out Halloween treats and trick-or-treaters. Adults are asked to avoid house parties and large gatherings this Saturday to limit the spread of COVID-19. We will get through this difficult time together by following public health recommendations and by looking out for our friends, family and neighbours. Thank you, Hamilton, for doing your part to celebrate Halloween safely this year.” - Mayor Fred Eisenberger

Additional Resources

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