Statement by Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Medical Officer of Health, on COVID-19 cases in Hamilton

HAMILTON, ON - Over the past few days, Hamilton Public Health Services has reported a noticeable increase in new positive COVID-19 cases for the city of Hamilton.  The daily numbers are higher than what we’ve seen previously.  While it’s important that the numbers be viewed over a 7-day average as opposed to a day-to-day tally in order to fully understand the current local status of cases and trends in the community, these sustained increases are concerning.

In Hamilton, the latest weekly rate of new cases per 100,000 population reported is 59.7.  The average number of cases (7-day moving average) reported per day is 48. The percent positivity among tests has also risen again to 3.7%. 

Hamilton continues to be firmly in the Red – “Control” category in the Provincial COVID-19 Response Framework.  Our community needs to continue to work together to lower these numbers and the transmission of disease in order to avoid moving into the Grey – “Lockdown” category. 

Going into what will likely be the start of a very busy shopping weekend, I would like to encourage holiday shoppers and retailers to reconsider the way they approach this annual tradition.  Instead, try online shopping, curbside pick-up and only going into essential places.  We need to continue to be mindful of the ways in which we conduct our day-to-day lives, and the choices we make in order to keep our friends and families safe. I am urging our residents and visitors to Hamilton to protect one another by staying home when feeling unwell, wearing a mask when in public or if you are unable to keep a 2M distance from others, washing your hands frequently, and only going out for essential reasons. 

It’s imperative that we work together to stop the transmission of COVID-19 in order to get the number of positive cases under control and ultimately avoid further illness and fatalities in our community.

Additional Resources

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