10 more Hamiltonians have COVID-19, plus numbers for Burlington, Niagara, Brant, H-N

Nearly half of the people who are confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 in Hamilton have recovered, while the city added another 10 people overnight to its coronavirus caseload.

That increase in COVID-19 cases in Hamilton takes the total to 364. Of those, 176 people, or 48 per cent, are better now.

The number of deaths increased to 17 on Wednesday, and remains there today.

One more person has been admitted to St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, which means 20 people are hospitalized. St. Joe's and Hamilton Health Sciences are both looking at phasing in other procedures that were cancelled because of the pandemic, as it appears unlikely the hospital surge will happen.

The city has also said the rate of increases has slowed, but is emphasizing the need to continue physical distancing. 

Hamilton Public Health Services says of the city's 364 cases, 359 are confirmed and five are probable.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, meanwhile, issued a statement Thursday saying cities are working together through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to get help paying for the pandemic. The pandemic will mean an estimated budget shortfall of $22.9 million in Hamilton, which councillors say the city can't pay without help.

"Cities have taken unprecedented steps to support the health and safety of our residents," Eisenberger said in a statement. 

He cited free HSR fares, public education, testing centres, interest-free property tax deferrals and turning FirstOntario Centre into a homeless shelter as some of the many unusual costs.

"At the same time, our revenue has plummeted dramatically, with no easy way to replace it except through property taxes at a time when many people are not working," he said. 

"Municipal governments need emergency funding to maintain the essential services we are all depending upon during this pandemic."

Brant

The number of cases in Brant and Brantford has stayed at 78 for the third day in a row. 

The Brant County Health Unit says 54 people have recovered, five are in hospital and three have died. Those are similar numbers to the day before. 

Dr. Elizabeth Urbantke, acting medical officer of health, said Tuesday that Brant's curve is flattening, but that's tenuous.

"We still need to stay vigilant and continue the efforts that have brought us here," she said.

Haldimand-Norfolk

The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit reports 28 deaths in the two counties. Most of those are at Anson Place Care Centre in Hagersville, where the executive director said Thursday that 27 people have died.

The number of cases has increased to 173 from 167 the day before, and 32 people have recovered. 

Halton

Halton is reporting 410 confirmed cases and 56 probable, for a total of 466. Of those, 18 have died and 217 have recovered. 

There have been 93 cases in Burlington and six people have died. 

That's up from 447 cases in Halton and 89 in Burlington as of Wednesday.

The region has seen two more deaths Thursday for a total of 18.

Niagara

Niagara has 412 confirmed cases, of which 158 have recovered and 220 are active. Thirty-four people have died.

That's up from 405 cases, including 217 active, on Wednesday. Four people have recovered since Wednesday, and the number of people who have died is steady at 34.