Hamilton sees drop in number of COVID-19 cases due to false positives

Hamilton | Ontario | COVID | Latest News |

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Published May 12, 2020 at 6:41 pm

The City of Hamilton is reporting that there are 490 cases of COVID-19 in the community as of Tuesday (May 12).

The City of Hamilton is reporting that there are 490 cases of COVID-19 in the community as of Tuesday (May 12).

This represents a four-case drop since reporting of cases on Monday but the drop reflects the fact that all known false-positive cases are being excluded from reporting.

By IntheHammer’s accounting, there are approximately 17 false-positive cases.

Hamilton’s death toll is up to 24, which is no change from Monday. The latest victim of the virus was a resident of Cardinal Nursing home where an outbreak had been declared weeks ago.

Many of the deaths recorded in Hamilton have been connected to outbreaks at some of the city’s long-term care or congregate facilities.

As of Tuesday, there are 12 active outbreaks in Hamilton at just such facilities, three of which have been declared in the last 24 hours.

The percentage of Hamilton’s COVID-19 cases that have been resolved has bumped up to 74 per cent — meaning 360 of the city’s overall cases have been resolved.

There are currently 19 people being treated for COVID-19 in Hamilton hospitals.

Ontario reported 361 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and 56 more deaths across the province.

That brings the province to a total of 20,907 cases, representing an increase of 1.8 per cent over the previous day, continuing relatively low growth rates seen over the past several days.

The total includes 1,725 deaths and 15,391 cases that have been resolved.

Meanwhile, the province’s official Opposition called on the government Tuesday to hold a public inquiry into the long-term care system.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the province must investigate the system that has been at the centre of numerous deadly outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 1,200 long-term care residents have died of COVID-19 in the province, and 174 homes have outbreaks of the virus.

— With a photo and file from The Canadian Press

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