On March 13, the number of COVID-19 cases in Niagara: one.
On Monday morning, the number of confirmed cases as per Niagara Public Health statistics was 136, of which 30 were listed as ‘resolved’.
That is an increase of 37 over the weekend, of which the new cases nine are travel related, in five cases to the United States.
Niagara Health reports that seven patients with confirmed COVID-19 have died, noting it does not necessarily mean that the virus was the cause of death.
Health officials are hoping that this week will see the effects of measures taken a few weeks ago, especially in regards to travel-related cases that could see a decline, according to Dr. Mustafa Hirji, regional acting medical officer for Niagara Public Health.
Niagara frontline workers are battling outbreaks in five homes; three in Welland, one in Beamsville and Niagara Falls Lundy Manor, that has come under fire over not being proactive enough in their outbreak response.
As the health crisis rolls on, the province responded to the growing number of new infections by imposing a new set of restrictions before the weekend, when the list of essential stores shrunk further.
The City of Thorold said on Facebook that a bylaw officer has been put to patrol and look for groups who might be violating the new regulations, and added that the public can report any prohibited gatherings to their office.
The province has granted municipal bylaw officers the power to write $750 tickets for not adhering to the directives.
