Hamilton Public Health is calling for a return to masking as the spread of COVID is high and the flu is on the rise.
“This is an important reminder to everyone in the community, including parents and their children, to use multiple layers of public health measures to protect themselves, their loved ones and help reduce pressure on the system of Hamilton,” stated a message from the city’s medical officer of health, Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, that was distributed by the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) on Wednesday. “This includes wearing a tight-fitting mask indoors, especially when crowded, getting a flu shot and staying up-to-date on your COVID-19 shots.”
An increase in children seriously ill from various viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), has overwhelmed McMaster Children’s Hospital. The crisis is expected to worsen as viruses such as COVID and influenza circulate widely in the community. COVID remains stable while flu is still on the rise.
“The transmission of COVID-19 in Hamilton is high and stable,” the latest community transmission update stated Wednesday. “Influenza transmission in Hamilton is moderate and increasing.”
The danger that COVID still poses can be seen in the number of large active outbreaks in Hamilton nursing homes. The worst ongoing outbreak is at Alexander Place Long Term Care in Waterdown, where 90 have tested positive and three have died since October 23.
Another major ongoing outbreak is at Heritage Green Nursing Home in Stoney Creek, where 81 have been infected and two have died since Oct. 23. Amica Dundas Retirement Residence has had 79 patients and one death since September 26. Arbor Creek Long Term Care The Stoney Creek facility has had 53 positives since Oct. 20.
In all, Hamilton had 24 active outbreaks in high-risk environments as of Tuesday.
In addition, the city reported the deaths of two seniors age 70 and older between Nov. 8 and Nov. 15 to bring Hamilton’s pandemic fatalities to 632.
With the triple threat of COVID, flu and RSV, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, strongly recommends wearing masks in indoor social settings and public spaces.
His advice Monday was supported by a public health letter distributed by both the HWDSB and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.
“Children are more vulnerable to complications and hospitalization from respiratory illness because their immune systems are still developing and their airways are small and more easily blocked,” the letter states. “Parents, carers and those who work closely with children are encouraged to take steps to help protect the children they interact with.”
Despite pleas from Hamiltonians to stay on top of their COVID intakes and the crisis at McMaster, uptake of the reinforcements has been slow.
Less than two percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have received four vaccinations, less than four percent of five- to 11-year-olds have received three doses, and only eight percent of children aged four and under have any vaccine against COVID.
Uptake among adults isn’t much better with only 13% or less of 18-49 year olds getting four shots. Even among those most at risk, about one-third have not had a fourth injection for those 70 and older.
“Getting a flu shot and keeping up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations can help protect yourself and others from the disease, and can help reduce the symptoms and duration of infection if you get sick,” the public health letter stated.
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