Blue Water Area COVID-19 Update for June 19, 2020

St. Clair County, MI — Lambton County, Ontario

Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of June 19, 2020 at  9:00 AM are as follows:

  • State of Michigan: 60,618 confirmed cases; 5,818 deaths
  • St. Clair County: 463 confirmed cases; 47 deaths
  • Ontario: 32,917  confirmed cases;  2,553 deaths
  • Sarnia-Lambton: 281 confirmed cases; 25 deaths

The State of Michigan is reporting that between January 1st and June 17th,  151 of the COVID-19 cases in St. Clair County are attributed to long-term care facilities, with 122 residents and 29 staff testing positive. 28 of those cases were fatal.

There have been 7,111 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in residents of long-term care facilities in Michigan and 1976 deaths.

Lambton Health is reporting two current active outbreaks of COVID-19. One at Afton Park Place long-term care home, where one staff member is ill, and one at Bluewater Health, where three staff members tested positive.  Seven other outbreaks at facilities have been declared over, with 16 deaths resulting.

Sarnia enters Stage 2 of the Framework for Reopening our Province today, which indicates positive trends in public health, lower transmission of COVID-19, sufficient hospital capacity, and an increase in testing and tracking capabilities.

*** It is important to note that WGRT is continuing to report confirmed cases from each area, not total cases which are a combination of confirmed and probable cases. We have chosen to approach the data this way to simplify our reports and to create uniformity in the numbers we are reporting for each region, St.Clair County, Lambton County, Michigan, and Ontario.

Please continue to rely on reputable sources for information on COVID-19:

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

The Runaway Bride 5K Set for August 1

In-person 5Ks are getting back on the calendar after a long season of cancellations and virtual races. The Runaway Bride 2nd Annual 5k FUNdraiser is scheduled for Saturday, August 1. That gives runners about six weeks to get in shape after a “Safer at Home” experience that may have included a lot of baked goods and Netflix marathons.

The Runaway Bride 5K raises funds for A Beautiful Me, a local charity that empowers girls through workshops, programs, and events in their schools and community. Over 9,000 girls have benefited from their programs since the founding in 2008.

The race will take place along the St. Clair River in Port Huron, starting at 8:00 a.m. Runners and walkers are encouraged to go along with the wedding theme and get their old bridesmaid dresses or tuxedos out of the closet for the race.

Participants get a free t-shirt if they sign up by July 10. More information can be found at RunSignUp.com/TheRunawayBride2020. The cost is $30 for those who preregister and $40 on the day of the event.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Health Department Resumes Water Monitoring at Beaches

St. Clair County,  MI — Maintaining safe beaches in the Blue Water Area is a high priority. The St. Clair County Health Department does its part by testing water samples at eight local beaches to monitor for E. coli bacteria.

Last year, the Health Department recorded one of the healthiest beach seasons on record, and they only had to close two area beaches for three days of the season. According to the Health Department, the improvement of water quality is due to sewer separation projects, elimination of illicit discharge, and installation of green infrastructure along the 58-mile county shoreline.

The Health Department will collect water samples daily until Labor Day to monitor for safe levels of E.coli bacteria. Any advisories about public beaches will be shared on their 24-hour Water Quality Hotline at 877-504-SWIM, on the St. Clair County Beaches Facebook page, the “MyBeachCast” app for smartphones, and the Michigan BeachGuard website at  www.egle.state.mi.us/beach/.

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

Juneteenth Celebration Day

June 19 has been designated as an official Juneteenth Celebration Day in the State of Michigan. While there is growing momentum toward making Juneteenth a national holiday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer made the declaration early this week to commemorate the 1865 abolition of slavery in the United States.

Juneteenth is a colloquial reference to June 19, 1865, the date in which enslaved people in Texas were finally made aware of the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln two years earlier. In the age of instant communication, a two-year delay in relaying a life-changing message seems unfathomable, but just 155 years ago, it was reality.

In referencing the Juneteenth proclamation, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II said “We have seen Michiganders across the state continue to fight for their freedom and the freedom of others. This day, which marks when the final group of Black Americans understood that they were free, is an important reminder of the work that must continue to be done to deliver equity and opportunity to every community.”

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland

Two Serious Personal Injury Accidents in Port Huron Yesterday

Port Huron, MI — On Wednesday, June 17th, Port Huron Police Officers responded to two serious personal injury accidents in the City of Port Huron. 

The first accident was called in at 8:10 a.m. Officers were dispatched to the intersection of 13th Street and Oak Street and found a pedestrian had been struck by a motor vehicle. The driver of the motor vehicle, a 35 year old male Port Huron resident, remained on the scene and had called 911. The driver did not appear intoxicated and no arrests have been made. The crash is being investigated by members of the Port Huron Police Accident Investigative Team and the Criminal Investigative Division. 

The pedestrian, a 52 year old male Port Huron resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers are attempting to make contact with his family at this time. 

The second accident occurred at 12:00 p.m. Officers were dispatched to the area of Lapeer Avenue and 20th Avenue on a report of a subject who fell off a motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, a 31 year old male Port Huron resident, had a serious head injury and was taken to Port Huron McLaren Hospital. It is unknown what caused the crash at this time. The crash is being investigated by members of the Port Huron Police Accident Investigative Team and the Criminal Investigative Division. 

Blue Water Area Transit Returning to Normal Routes

Port Huron, MI — Things are getting back to normal for Blue Water Area Transit, as they are starting to re-open services. Buses will run fixed routes starting at 6:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22.

The M-29/I-94 commuter service to Mt. Clemens will begin on June 22, also. Demand Response, or Dial-a-Ride, will continue with riders calling to schedule their rides.

Riders are asked to observe safety precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19. If a bus has two doors, riders are asked to exit through the back doors only. Riders must wear face masks, and maintain social distance from the driver and other passengers. Members of the same household may sit together. Bus capacity will be reduced, so some riders may be passed by if the bus is full and will have to wait for a “stand-by” vehicle.

The suspension of fare collection ends on Monday also, with regular rates going back into effect. Rates range from 40 to 80 cents per ride.

Blue Water Area Transit is also opening the Downtown Transit Center on McMorran Boulevard and the Main Office on Lapeer Road.

Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland