Choze Powell

No Waiting Period to Give Blood After COVID Vaccine

Port Huron, MI — The American Red Cross has still been experiencing a shortage of blood donations, and they want to inform the public that there is no waiting period to give blood after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Those who receive a vaccine and want to donate blood can do so immediately as long as they are symptom-free, feeling well, and can provide the Red Cross with the vaccine manufacturer’s name.

When you become a blood, platelet, or plasma donor with the American Red Cross, your donation will automatically be tested for COVID-19 antibodies. If the test discovers high levels of antibodies present, your donation could be used to help COVID-19 patients who are actively fighting the virus recover more quickly.

They are also screening donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait which provides donors with valuable health information and helps the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease who require blood transfusions for treatment.

For more information about donating blood and to find a blood drive near you, visit Red CrossBlood.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

St. Clair County, MI — It’s time to clean out those medicine cabinets and prepare to safely dispose of unwanted and expired pills. The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in National Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 24th.

The Sheriff’s office is located at 1170 Michigan Road, and the public can drop off unwanted pills in the lobby between 10 AM and 2 PM. Simply enter the Sheriff’s office lobby and empty your pills into the designated container.

According to a 2019 survey on Drug Use and Health, millions of people misused prescription pain relievers, stimulants, and tranquilizers, and the majority of those drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Sheriff Mat King said, “This event has been great for our community. It allows citizens to get rid of expired and unwanted medication, keeping it from being used improperly and keeping it out of our water supply.”

Residents who can’t make it to the Drug Take Back event on Saturday can turn their pills in at the Sheriff’s Office during normal business hours, Monday – Friday from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Is It Time for a New Pet?

St. Clair County, MI — It’s time for the annual Empty the Shelters event sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation, and those interested in adopting a new pet from the Blue Water Humane Society need to be pre-approved by May 1st.

Empty the Shelters helps reduce the adoption fee of pets from participating shelters. The regular price to adopt a cat from the Blue Water Humane Society is $100 and $150 for a dog. During Empty the Shelters, the cost is reduced to $25 or less.

The Blue Water Humane Society is open by appointment only on Tuesdays – Fridays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturdays from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. They are closed to the public on Sundays and Mondays.

Interested new pet parents can view available pets at the Blue Water humane Society by viewing their profile on Pet Finder.com <HERE>, and then call the shelter to get pre-approved by filling out an application.

Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation, said “The national Empty the Shelters event in May will be our largest yet, and as a small foundation, we are incredibly proud to see the growth of this program as we continue to expand its impact. Empty the Shelters not only helps our shelter partners free up space in their facilities, but it places pets in permanent homes. It’s a win-win for everyone involved…our partners, ETS adopters, and most importantly, the pets.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

Summer Jobs Still Available with City of Port Huron

Port Huron, MI — As the City of Port Huron endures what it hopes will be the last cold spell of spring, officials are looking forward to a busy summer of outdoor recreation. With city facilities opening back up and recreation programs planned, the need for seasonal workers is pressing.

In a letter to the Mayor and City Council, James Freed Port Huron City Manager, said the need for seasonal workers in the parks, recreation, and cemetery departments was urgent.

The city currently has openings for a variety of positions including pool maintenance, cashiers, and lifeguards, along with lawn maintenance, park rangers, and parking booth attendants. There are several openings for program staff at the Parks and Recreation Department such as Day Camp Leaders and Palmer Play staff. Most jobs are part-time and pay between $9.87 – $15 per hour.

Freed also said in the letter that “often times, when fulltime jobs open up our seasonal workers are at the front of the line. It’s a good foot in the door.”

For a fill list of job openings at the City of Port Huron, visit their website <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Quarantine Recommendations for Partially Vaccinated Individuals

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office reported on Tuesday that 45% of Michiganders have now received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 30% are fully vaccinated. The state is set to surpass six million doses of the vaccine given over the last four months.

While the number of COVID-19 cases in Michigan remains high, and more contagious variants of the virus are spreading, some families are finding themselves in odd situations where they are being exposed to COVID-19, or infected, between vaccine appointments.

Vaccines are most effective two weeks after the last dose, so a person is not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after their second dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after the first dose of a one-dose vaccine. You are at risk for contracting COVID-19 until you are fully vaccinated.

Because those who receive the first dose of a vaccine are still at risk for contracting COVID-19, they should continue to be vigilant with hand washing, mask wearing, and physical distancing.

If partially vaccinated individuals are exposed to the virus by a close contact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends they quarantine and watch for symptoms for 14 days. If symptoms begin, they should be tested and isolate for another 10 days. Quarantine time can be reduced to 10 days if they remain symptom free, or 7 days if they receive a negative test on day 5 or after.

While some research shows that having a confirmed COVID-19 infection within the last 6 months along with receiving the first dose of a two-dose vaccine results in a more robust immune response, the (CDC) still recommends quarantine for those in that category.

Those who become infected or are in quarantine between vaccine doses may have to reschedule their second dose. Infected individuals can receive their second dose of the vaccine if they have completed their isolation period and are symptom free. Those who were quarantined due to exposure can receive their second dose when the quarantine period ends.

To reschedule a vaccine appointment in St. Clair County, call the Health Department at (810) 966-4163 during regular business hours.

Quarantine is not recommended for those who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from a confirmed COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days. A person who is fully vaccinated is two weeks past their second dose of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks past their first dose of a one-dose vaccine.

For more information on the CDC’s recommendations for quarantine visit their website, <HERE>.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

 

 

Port Huron Schools Will Remain Remote for Now

Port Huron, MI — At a meeting Monday night, the Port Huron Schools Board of Education voted to keep its schools 100% remote for Pre-K – 12. They plan to re-evaluate the situation in a special meeting next week.

School Superintendent Jamie Cain said in a letter to parents that daily Zoom classes will continue and all coursework will be posted in Schoology. Students who are enrolled in the district’s virtual program will be unaffected.

In November of 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) paused in-person learning in high schools because of a spike in COVID-19 cases. They reinstated in-person classes on December 21, 2020, but many school districts chose to continue instruction remotely.

In January, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and her administration set a goal to have all Michigan students transitioned to face-to-face learning by March 1st or earlier. She reported in a February 24, 2021 press release that 85% of Michigan school districts were back to in-person learning and by March 1, 2021 97% of districts would be in-person.

Cases of COVID-19 in Michigan have been increasing since March 1st, partially due to cases among school-aged children and their families. An April 16th extension of the MDHHS Epidemic Order, stated that “as of April 8, local health departments [in Michigan] had reported 312 new and ongoing outbreaks among K-12 schools.”

Each school district in Michigan is responsible for coordinating with their local health departments and officials to determine the safest way to educate their students.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand