Number of active COVID-19 cases in Hamilton back up to more than 200

Hamilton is reporting 21 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Thursday (Nov. 25) as the number of active cases in the community climbs to more than 200 for the first time in weeks.

According to Hamilton Public Health Services data shared to the City’s website, there are currently 204 active COVID-19 cases in the community and nine active outbreaks.

The seven-day average for new cases sits at 22 and the city’s reproductive number — the average number of secondary infections generated by an individual with COVID-19 — is 1.13.

Local hospitals are treating 12 people for COVID-related illnesses of whom fewer than 10 are in Hamilton ICUs.

In the meantime, Ontario is reporting 748 new COVID-19 cases and five deaths from the virus on Thursday.

Health Minister Christine Elliott said 375 of the new cases are in unvaccinated people and 44 people have unknown vaccination status.

There were 137 patients in intensive care units across the province with COVID-related critical illness including 87 people on ventilators.

As of Wednesday, there were seven patients from Saskatchewan in Ontario intensive care units.

Ontario says 86 per cent of residents aged 12 and older have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and 89 per cent have at least one shot.

Child-friendly vaccination clinics were starting to pick up steam in Ontario days after bookings opened. Some early doses were administered earlier this week following the shots’ Sunday arrival in Canada.

Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said more than 100,000 appointments had been booked for kids since the provincial booking portal went live on Tuesday. That number doesn’t include bookings made through local public health units, pharmacies and doctors’ offices across the province.

More Ontario health units were planning to run child-specific clinics over the weekend and early next month.

In Hamilton, to date, 885,411 COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered with 83.1 per cent of eligible residents 12 years of age and older having received two shots and 86.1 with one dose.

To learn more about Hamilton’s vaccine rollout or to book an appointment for a shot, visit the City’s website.

— with a file from The Canadian Press