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To date, there is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in Hamilton, and public health says the risk of contracting the virus remains low.

From the way we shake hands at church to March break trips being cancelled and concerts being postponed, the effects keep coming.

Here are all the ways the coronavirus has affected Hamilton:

Long-term care homes

Hamilton's city-owned long-term care homes have started "active screening" of all visitors to Macassa Lodge and Wentworth Lodge to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus to vulnerable residents.

The city said in a statement it is following provincial directives in adopting the more stringent screening practices for respiratory illness, which will also apply to residents who return from appointments, hospital stays or other absences from the lodges.

Signs have also been posted asking would-be visitors to postpone their visit if they feel unwell or have recently travelled internationally to areas with COVID-2019 outbreaks.

The provincially directed protocol changes come after multiple cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at a seniors' home in Vancouver. Canada's first confirmed death related to the outbreak was linked to the facility.

City launches online tracking

Hamilton created a landing page online where local instances of COVID-19 testing will be tracked and updated daily. In a memo to councillors, an official from public health noted that 55 public health staff had been "redeployed" to the virus response effort.

Pearl Jam postpones tour

The rock group has postponed the North American leg of its upcoming tour, including a Hamilton show scheduled for March 24 at FirstOntario Centre.

Alison Meredith bumps elbows with Michael Bloss at Christ's Church Cathedral. | Cathie Coward/The Hamilton Spectator

Airport precautions

Hamilton's international airport is installing extra hand sanitizer stations throughout the Mount Hope terminal and increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of "high traffic areas," said spokesperson Tomas Cleary. Information posters about good hygiene measures are also going up throughout the building.

Carriers who fly to international destinations out of John C. Munroe, like Swoop, are also posting COVID-2019 advisories about what travellers should expect.

With March break looming, the airport is still expecting more travellers and is even making overflow parking available. So far, Cleary said the airport "is not seeing an indication of changes to passenger's travel plans and the airport is continuing to work with its airline partners on monitoring any impact to advance bookings."

Hamilton International is supporting public health practices with additional measures, to enable our passengers and employees to be vigilant about their health, including installation of extra hand sanitizer stations throughout the terminal and increased frequency of cleaning and disinfecting high traffic areas. Hamilton International has also installed informational posters throughout the building, reminding travellers of the precautionary measures they can take to prevent the spread of germs.

No more handshakes

Local church officials are recommending against the traditional handshake during service, opting instead for a "no contact" peace greeting.

Roll Up The Rim cups

Canadian coffee giant Tim Hortons is getting rid of Roll Up The Rim paper cups in advance of its iconic annual giveaway because of public health concerns over the novel coronavirus. Tim Hortons, McDonald's and Starbucks say they are not using reuseable cups at the moment.

Tim Hortons is getting rid of Roll Up The Rim paper cups | Cole Burston, THE CANADIAN PRESS

School boards cancel March break trips

Multiple Hamilton-area school boards have cancelled trips scheduled for March break. The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board cancelled all international school trips planned for the week. The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board cancelled its trips to Italy and France. The Grand Erie District School Board cancelled trips to Ireland and Scotland. The Halton Board of Education has cancelled all scheduled trips to Europe and Asia during the break.

McMaster's preparation

Classes and activities at the university are running as normal, but McMaster has resources available for academic programs to be delivered online if public health issues such a directive. A McMaster University student, who self-isolated following a trip to Italy, tested negative for coronavirus. McMaster University is ending study-related international travel for both undergraduate and graduate students over concerns about the novel coronavirus pandemic. The institution enacted the change Wednesday, but offered graduate students the option of seeking a "waiver" to allow some travel if needed. That waiver would require approval from high-level university brass. Students who are already abroad for their studies should get in touch with supervisors to discuss any concerns or the prospect of returning home earlier than scheduled, according to an online statement.

A McMaster student in self-isolation with flu-like symptoms does not have the coronavirus. | The Associated Press file photo

Public transit

Hamilton's transit union is asking the city to help protect HSR drivers from the novel coronavirus by providing hand sanitizer and cleaning buses more frequently.

Self isolation

Hamilton's public health department is asking anyone who travelled to the centre of the novel coronavirus outbreak in China to stay isolated for 14 days after their departure.

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A pedestrian reads a sign on the Canadian Tire at Main and Victoria streets heralding protective mask in stock, as the coronavirus continues to make headlines. | Barry Gray/The Hamilton Spectator file photo

Hospitals gearing up

Both Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton say they have plans in place for how to respond to a pandemic, but HHS warns their resources are already stretched thin. The hospitals are proactively screening patients at all of their sites. They say they are also stocking up on protective gear.

Hockey in Hamilton

The Hockey Canada Board of Directors has cancelled all Hockey Canada-sanctioned activities, effective March 13. This includes the Hamilton Bulldogs, who will not be playing their final two regular season home games and the Allan Cup meant to be played in Hamilton and Dundas early next month.

City business abroad

A trade mission Hamilton's economic development office was to take to Italy and Spain this month has been cancelled. Government Affairs Canada and the Consider Canada City Alliance, of which the municipality is a member, had organized the trip, city spokesperson Michael Marini said.

DVSA auction

The Dundas Valley School of Art is pushing ahead with its plans for the 50th anniversary of its enormously popular annual art auction, scheduled for April 16 to 18. But the school is monitoring the situation closely and very alert to concerns, said Keir Overton, DVSA marketing and communications director.

"We just had a big discussion of this yesterday," Overton told The Spectator Wednesday (March 11). "We set a deadline of early April to evaluate whether to continue (with current plans) or reschedule but at this point we are pushing ahead. "We're well aware of the situation and have drawn a line in the sand of early April," to make adjustments if necessary.

Classes are over for the terms at DVSA, so they don't need to make plans to close if circumstances worsen, but the matter has arisen with respect to the DVSA auction, which draws anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 people to the school at 21 Ogilvie in Dundas, over the course of the weekend, with several hundred in the building at any given time during the auction.

Virtual Chilly Half Marathon

Organizers of Burlington's Chilly Half Marathon are allowing runners to do this race and two others virtually until April 1. Race organizers issued a release saying: "We understand many of you may be reluctant to attend public race events due to concerns over possible exposure to the coronavirus. In response to those concerns, we have extended the deadline for our Virtual Chilly Half, Frigid 10k, and Frosty 5K Races to April 1." Runners can track their race with strava, Garmin or any device or map of their route and send in their route with their picture. Runners will still receive their race medals and T-shirts.

Burlington's Teen Tour Band

The City of Burlington has announced that the Teen Tour Band's trip to Myrtle Beach has been cancelled. "After careful consideration, Burlington's Teen Tour Band nine-day trip to Myrtle Beach for the Can-Am Days parades and concerts has been cancelled," a media release said. The bus trip to Myrtle Beach would have taken the band through at least two states that have currently declared states of emergencies in order to deal with COVID-19. "The decision was made out of the abundance of caution to ensure the safety of band members, volunteers and staff based on the information we have at this time."

READ MORE:

Has threat of the coronavirus been overhyped by media?

Coronavirus in Hamilton? Virus fears push the hot buttons of our sense of vulnerability

This is why Dr. Chris Mackie says you shouldn't panic about coronavirus

Reach The Spectator newsroom at 905-526-3420 or news@thespec.com

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