Op-Ed from Dr. Mercatante – Let’s Get to Work

St. Clair County, MI — With the alarming surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, we are left with only a few options in how we can respond: (a) ignore it and take your chances (not advisable), (b) panic and make up our own rules, or (c) follow evidence-based guidance. I hope you are all in line with option “c”. I understand how difficult it is to keep up with the latest science and recommendations so here is what we know at this point:

  • Masks: They work …they really do. Wear one all the time in public and at home if you are with vulnerable people who are unvaccinated.
  • Physical Distance: The virus cannot fly or move on its own…it hitches a ride on respiratory droplets that can only go so far to water droplets that can only go so far. Distance is your friend.
  • Handwashing/Sanitation: This germ dies with soap and water.
  • Stay Home if Sick: Isolate for 10 days if you know, or think, you have COVID19. Before you go out again, make sure 10 days has passed AND you are feeling better. The SARSCov2 virus can be transmitted up to 48 hours before you get sick and even if you are not having symptoms (tested positive only).
  • Testing: Regular testing helps everyone. By no means is it perfect, but frequent testing can reduce the time people go out while infected and help us at the Health Department identify where the outbreaks are. Choosing NOT to test does not eliminate the risk…it just prevents people from knowing.
  • Quarantine: A basic tenet of public health that has been used for centuries to control the spread of infectious disease. Quarantine means staying away from other people after an exposure to someone who is sick or has tested positive for COVID-19, which ensures you do not unwittingly pass it on. The SCCHD is advising those exposed to complete a full 14-day quarantine period due to high rates of transmission and a growing number of variant cases. Remember, testing at any time does not alter your quarantine time. The 7-day option (with testing) has NOT been adopted by MDHHS nor SCCHD and should not be considered at this time of elevated risk.

And finally, vaccines. Those that are currently available are safe and effective. Get the first one that is available to you. The sooner we disrupt the transmission of this virus, the sooner we can spend more time with the people we love and do the things we want to do. Vaccines protect the community even more than they protect you so I urge everyone to make a plan to get vaccinated when you are eligible and to continue employing all the mitigation strategies outlined above until we reach herd immunity.

That’s a lot to take in, but much more likely to work than doing nothing or doing the wrong thing. It’s going to take everyone doing their part to beat this virus…let’s get to work!

Yours in Health,
Annette Mercatante, MD, MPH
Medical Health Officer
St. Clair County Health Department

Michigan Learning Channel Launches to Teach Conservation

The Michigan Learning Channel has been launched to teach lessons about understanding and preserving Michigan’s natural resources. The channel is the result of a collaboration between public television stations and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

The content is aimed at children in grades Kindergarten through third grade and is available over the airwaves and on digital devices.

EGLE Director Liesl Clark said the purpose is to “get young students excited about the environment and instill in them at an early age a sense of stewardship of the state’s air, land and water resources.”

Clark said, “As this generation’s children grow up, they will be key to finding solutions to tough ecological problems and shepherding Michigan toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 in a manner that is equitable for all communities.”

The content will include videos that explain complex issues such as geology, recycling, and climate change in easy-to-understand ways, according to EGLE.

All public television stations in Michigan have established special on-air channels. The content is also available at MichiganLearning.org.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Spadafore Named St. Clair County Undersheriff

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office has announced some personnel changes. Matt Paulus has retired as Undersheriff and Jim Spadafore has been promoted to the job. Matt Pohl has been promoted to Captain of the Road Patrol.

Undersheriff Jim Spadafore has a Criminal Justice degree from Ferris State and started working for the Sheriff’s Office in 2001. He has served as Lieutenant in the Drug Task Force and Captain of the Road Patrol.

Sheriff Mat King said, “I am excited to name Jim as our new Undersheriff. With his knowledge and skill set, I know he will do a tremendous job in serving the citizens of St. Clair County.”

Reflecting on Matt Paulus’ retirement, Sheriff King said, “Matt has worn many hats throughout his career at the Sheriff’s Office. I was pleased when he agreed to stay in a transitional capacity after I was elected Sheriff. He has been a great help in making the transition from Sheriff Donnellon to myself seamless.”

Matt Paulus’ retirement as Undersheriff comes after 35 years of service. After a brief retirement in 2017, Paulus was called back to serve as Undersheriff with former Sheriff Donnellon after the retirement of Tom Buckley.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Vaccine Survey Scams Circulating

The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers about a new email scam that could be coming to your text or email inbox: a fake vaccine survey.

The surveys look like they are sponsored by vaccine manufacturers such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna. They ask participants to take a limited-time survey about their vaccine experience and promise a reward in exchange.

When the consumer takes the survey, they are asked for credit card or banking information to cover the cost of shipping and handling for their reward. This is simply a way for scammers to receive your personal information and access your money.

For those who want to share their vaccine experience in a legitimate way, the V-Safe app is smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to inform the CDC of any side-effects experienced after the vaccine.

More information about the legitimate vaccine reporting tool is available at cdc.gov/vsafe

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

810 Phone Numbers Will Undergo Dialing Change

Port Huron, MI — There is plenty of time to get ready for a change affecting anyone with an 810, 616, 906, or 989 area code. Beginning on April 24th, callers are encouraged to start transitioning to 10-digit dialing instead of 7-digit dialing. In other words, dialing the area code along with the telephone number.

The change comes as a result of a new abbreviated dialing code for the suicide prevention hotline. The new code to reach the hotline will go into effect in July of 2022, and  the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) wants callers to be ready for the change well in advance.

The new code for the Suicide Prevention Hotline will be 988, which is currently being used as an area code in Michigan.

The Michigan Public Service Commission recognized that, “in order for 988 to dial directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, any area code that includes the 988 prefix must transition from 7-digit dialing (dialing without the area code) to 10-digit dialing (area code with the telephone number.”

Michigan residents calling numbers with an 810, 616, 906, or 989 area code can begin using 10-digit dialing at any time to get ahead of the change.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Landmark’s Wilton Selected as MAPSA Administrator of the Year Finalist

Kimball, MI — Landmark Academy in Kimball has something to celebrate. Landmark’s Superintendent Debby Wilton has been nominated as a finalist as the 2021 Michigan Charter School Administrator of the Year.

Wilton was a semi-finalist and one of only ten administrators chosen from among over 1500 charter school administrators across Michigan. According to MAPSA, the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, they received over 700 nominations from parents, teachers, school leaders, and students from urban, suburban, and rural areas statewide.

It was announced last week that Superintendent Wilton made it to the finalist round of just five administrators statewide.

Wilton has been Superintendent at Landmark since 2014. Landmark has around 800 students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.

Last year, Landmark Academy Teacher Bonnie Camm was a finalist for the 2020 MAPSA Teacher of the Year.

The winning MAPSA Administrator of the Year will be announced during Charter Schools Week on May 14th.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland