Radius outbreak linked to SpinCo, restaurant says

Hamilton’s SpinCo outbreak is now linked to a second outbreak, says a nearby downtown restaurant.

On Thursday, Hamilton public health reported an outbreak at Radius restaurant, declared Wednesday after three staff members tested positive. The outbreak comes in the wake of the growing SpinCo outbreak, declared Oct. 5, which hit 72 cases on Thursday.

“Our first case has been linked to the local spin studio outbreak,” Radius confirmed in a statement on Thursday.

Owner Ian Ladd said in an email he did not have additional information on how the case was connected to SpinCo, including if the employee was exposed to the virus at a spin class.

Hamilton public health said it was too soon in their investigation to say if the Radius outbreak was tied to SpinCo.

The news comes as positive cases at climbed to 72 on Thursday, with one new patron infected and two new secondary contacts infected. In total, 45 riders, two staff and 25 secondary contacts — close contacts of primary cases — have tested positive.

SpinCo is located at 80 James St. N., blocks away from Radius at 151 James St. S.

Radius customers who visited the restaurant on Oct. 9 or 10 — when an infected staff member worked without knowing they were sick — are encouraged to contact Hamilton public health directly if they have questions, the restaurant said in the statement.

Radius says Hamilton public health told them the risk to customers is “low.”

“Employees are being tested, and all have been asked to self-isolate at home until test results are known,” the statement reads.

The restaurant closed Oct. 13 and plans to remain closed until Oct. 21.

“While we are closed, we will continue our safety measures; thoroughly cleaning, and sanitizing the entire restaurant,” Radius says.

Meanwhile, McMaster University reported its on campus Wednesday.

The university said a student employee who worked at the campus services building on Oct. 2 has now tested positive. The building has been cleaned and public health is conducting contact tracing.

Over at St. Joseph’s Healthcare, a worker is confirmed to have contracted the virus, the hospital said Thursday.

“A health-care worker exposed in the community provided care at our Charlton site, and contact tracing was initiated right away,” St. Joe’s said in a statement. “As the worker wore appropriate personal protective equipment and followed infection prevention controls and protocol, risk of transmission was very low.”

Seven patients are currently in isolation “out of an abundance of caution” but all tested negative for COVID-19, the hospital said.

Aside from Radius and SpinCo, other ongoing include Salvation Army Lawson Ministries Assisted Living, which has one case in a staff member; Dundurn Place Care Centre’s fourth floor, which has one case in a staff member and a second case; Sacred Heart of Jesus Elementary School, which has two staff infected; Shannen Koostachin Elementary School, which has two staff infected; and Kushies Baby store, which has three staff infected.

Hamilton’s COVID-19 cases increased by 30 Thursday, bringing the city’s cumulative case tally to 1,466. There are 196 active cases. Of all cases, 83 per cent are considered resolved.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: