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Public health officials in Brantford-Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk and Six Nations are reporting a surge of COVID-19 cases.
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The Brant County Health Unit on Friday reported 85 new cases over the past 24 hours. The health unit also reported four cases of the Omicron variant.
The surge bring to 150 the number of new cases recorded by the health unit so far this week with three more days of reporting left.
By way of comparison, the health unit reported 158 new cases for the week ending Dec. 19.
There were 227 active cases in Brantford-Brant as of Friday and the health unit said there were eight people in hospital receiving treatment for the virus. The Brant Community Healthcare System reported seven people receiving treatment in Brantford General Hospital with five patients in critical care.
The difference in figures provided by the healthcare system and the health unit stems from different reporting times. As well, there may be local residents receiving treatment at another hospital outside of Brantford-Brant.
The additional cases brings to 4,755 the number of positive tests in Brantford-Brant since the pandemic began. Of those, 4,496 have been resolved. Thirty-two people have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
The health unit is reporting 2,087 variants of concern. Of those, 792 have the Alpha lineage, 507 have the Delta lineage, 89 have the Gamma lineage and 695 have some mutation detected. Four cases have been identified as having the Omicron variant.
There have been 269,049 total doses of the vaccine administered at vaccination clinics in Brantford-Brant. That number includes 120,144 first doses, 118,671 second doses and 30,234 third doses.
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Outbreaks are ongoing at Brantford Little School Child Care center where one child tested positive; St. George-German School where three children tested positive and at a manufacturing facility where five people tested positive. The outbreak at the manufacturing facility was declared Dec. 6.
The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit on Friday reported 84 new cases of COVID-19 in the two communities. As of Friday, there were 322 active cases of COVID-19 in Haldimand and Norfolk.
The additional cases brings to 3,929 the number of positive tests in Haldimand and Norfolk since the pandemic began. Of those, 3,540 have been resolved.
In Haldimand-Norfolk, 58 people have died of COVID-19 while nine others, who had tested positive for the virus, died of other causes.
Meanwhile, Six Nations public health is reporting 19 new cases of COVID-19 and more positive tests are expected in the coming days.
The new cases, recorded by public health officials on Thursday, brings to 889 the number of positive tests on Six Nations since the start of the pandemic. They also represent the single biggest daily increase in COVID-19 cases on Six Nations in the past week.
The surge prompted a plea from public health officials urging community members to stay home as much as possible and not gather during the holiday season.
The advisory, posted on social media on Thursday night, said the Omicron variant is spreading quickly and causing a strain on the healthcare system and hospitals. It urges community members to limit their contacts with others to slow the spread as much as possible.
Public health officials said there were 26 active cases on Six Nations as of Thursday and 128 people were in self-isolation. One person was in hospital receiving treatment for the virus.
There have been 15 deaths due to COVID-19 on Six Nations since the start of the pandemic.
Public health officials are urging community members to follow public health measures including wearing a mask, physical distance and frequent hand washing. As well, community members who have COVID-19 related symptoms are urged to get tested.
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