There are currently more than 500 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Michigan. Testing continues and more cases are likely to be reported. On March 12, the first presumptive positive case has been confirmed in a middle-aged man in St. Clair County. According to the Health Department, he has a history of domestic travel. The individual is home and isolated. The Department also reports he took proper, early precautions and has had minimal contact with others.
As of March 19, there are seven confirmed cases in St. Clair County.
The situation locally may change quickly. Health Department officials are relying on our community to work together to slow the potential spread of illness and refer to official sources of reliable information. The following is an evolving list of local advisories and cancellations:
St. Clair County: Current Status of Operations
Administrative Office Building: Offices are open to the public by appointment only.
Administrator/Controller ……………………………………………………………………………. (810) 989-6900
Equalization ………………………………………………………………………………………………. (810) 989-6925
Human Resources ………………………………………………………………………………………. (810) 989-6910
Metropolitan Planning Commission ……………………………………………………………… (810) 989-6950
Michigan State University Cooperative Extension ………………………………………….. (810) 989-6935
Parks and Recreation Commission ……………………………………………………………….. (810) 989-6960
Register of Deeds ……………………………………………………………………………………….. (810) 989-6930
Treasurer …………………………………………………………………………………………………… (810) 989-6915
Veterans Affairs (phone appointments only) …………………………………………………. (810) 989-6945
Court Offices: Open for essential services only.
72nd District:
• In-custody weekday arraignments; weekend arraignments.
• To the extent possible, previously scheduled in-custody hearings;
• Emergency motions;
• Hearings on emergency matters at the discretion of the Judge.
31st Circuit Court:
• In-custody arraignments;
• To the extent possible, previously scheduled in-custody hearings;
• Non In-custody criminal matters will be heard at the discretion of each individual Judge; please
contact the Judges’ Clerk for further direction.
• The initiation of personal protection orders (PPOs);
• Hearings on denied PPOs and violation of PPOs;
• Emergency bond motions;
• Emergency domestic motions;
• Requests for emergency show cause and injunctive orders;
• Infectious disease cases; and
• Hearings on emergency matters at the discretion of the Judge
Juvenile Court:
• Hearings involving in-custody juveniles;
• Preliminary/emergency hearings involving child protective proceedings and/or PPOs;
• Waiver hearings for youth to be charged as or the rights attributed to an adult;
• Hearings on emergency matters at the discretion of the Judge.
Probate Court:
• Emergency mental health hearings and petitions for pick up orders;
• Emergency proceedings for guardianships and conservatorships;
• Emergency orders and/or hearings on warning notices pursuant to MCL 333.5203
• Hearings on emergency matters at the discretion of the Judge.
Essential filings shall be made by email, fax, or through the U.S. mail. There will also be a drop box at the entrance of the Port Huron Courthouse for essential filings only.
All emergency motions identified above should be emailed or faxed to the appropriate Court. Litigants should also call the appropriate Court for direction once the email or fax has been sent.
Port Huron District Court 31st Circuit Court /County Clerk
Email: [email protected] Go to www.stclaircountyclerk.org
Phone: (810) 985-2072 and tab to ‘Electronic Fax Filing’
Fax: (810) 982-1260 Phone: (810) 985-2200
Marine City District Court St. Clair County Probate Court
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Phone: (810) 765-4057 Phone: (810) 985-2066
Fax: (810) 765-1143 Fax: (810) 985-2179
Personal Protection Orders Juvenile Court
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Phone: (810) 985-2090 Phone: (810) 985-2155
Fax: (810) 985-2187
Treatment Courts shall be temporarily suspended. Probationers shall report to their probationofficer/agent by telephone as directed.
Animal Control …………………………………………………………………………………………… (810) 984-3155
Operations will remain status quo
Airport ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… (810) 364-6890
Operations will remain status quo
Drain Commission ………………………………………………………………………………………. (810) 364-5369
By appointment only
Landfill ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… (810) 985-2443
Household hazardous waste no longer accepted
Sheriff ………………………………………………………………………………………………………. (810) 987-1712
• All public contact to the jail will be limited to professional staff and attorneys only
• All on-site visits have been suspended
• Online video visitation will remain available for inmate visits remotely
• All jail programs have been suspended
• Intervention Academy has canceled classes through April 6th
• Citizens will not be able to come into the office for fingerprints, purchase permits, SOR,
visitation, or any other services.
All Michigan K-12 Schools
Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced March 12 the closure of all K-12 school buildings, public, private, and boarding, to students starting Monday, March 16 until Sunday, April 5. School buildings are scheduled to reopen on Monday, April 6.
St. Clair County School Districts:
Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 and continuing through Monday, April 13, 2020, St. Clair County school districts and RESA will do the following to help mitigate the spread of the virus:
- All events open to the public will be postponed or canceled. (Plays, musicals, concerts, PTA meetings, kindergarten roundup, etc.)
- All international and domestic travel to group events are canceled
- All spring athletic practices and competitions are canceled.
- All events currently scheduled by outside organizations at local schools will be canceled
- Increased cleaning and disinfecting of all school buildings, buses, and common surfaces will continue
- Latchkey will remain open with regularly scheduled hours
According to Marysville Superintendent Shawn Wightman, RESA and the seven area school superintendents are “aware that universities across Michigan have canceled face-to-face classes. We are preparing for the potential total school closure and are considering alternate learning opportunities for all students in that event. We will continue to rely on the guidance of the Governor and state/local health officials to make decisions about closing schools.”
St. Clair County RESA:
Canceled: Blue Water College Access Network
Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Career Panel
Thursday, March 19
Canceled: Blue Water College Access Network
SAT Test Prep Workshop
Saturday, March 21
For more related to these closures go to: http://sccresa.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=496562&pageId=14323116
City of Port Huron:
No water shutoffs will take place for a 30 day period effect March 13, 2020
- All City Residents are discouraged from conducting business within the Municipal Office
Center that can otherwise be conducted via U.S. Mail, Drive-Thru Window or online at www.PortHuron.org. City night drop-box will be processed continually. Elderly and at- risk populations should avoid the Municipal Office Center. - McMorran Civic Theatre and Arena events with over 100 people in expected attendance
are canceled. - Palmer Park Community Center events are canceled.
- Police and Fire Operations are coordinating response plans for potential COVID 19
contact with emergency response agencies and healthcare agencies from across the
County. - Rental Inspection operations will temporarily pause.
- Cemetery and Forestry Divisions have suspended in-person services.
- Convention & Visitors Bureau support of Pub Crawl is canceled. The Parade scheduled
for March 14th is canceled. Health officials discourage people from participating. - City Administration will be taking measures to afford paid sick time to employees whom
may become exposed to COVID-19. All City personnel will err on the side of caution. - Scheduled water meter appointments entering private property will be paused.
- Recycling bins will only be available at 1812 Bancroft Street. Currently they are
available at the MOC in the Clerk’s Office and the Engineering Office.
For more related to these closures go to: https://www.porthuron.org/alert_detail.php
Fort Gratiot
Fort Gratiot Township is actively working on taking extra precautions to limit the exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The health and safety of residents is the top priority. Therefore, the following procedures will be adopted immediately:
- Residents are encouraged to conduct any business with the township via telephone, US Mail or email. Utility bill payments can be made online at fortgratiot.us (under Quick Links), via US Mail or placed in the drop box at the front doors. This box will be checked frequently.
- The Building Department requests that any business that can be done over the phone or via email to [email protected] be utilized.
- Late fees and penalties on utility bills will be waived through April 15,2020 for all those experiencing financial difficulties due to these public health issues. Contact Patti in the Water Department to discuss or email [email protected]
- Water shut-offs and meter replacements will be temporarily discontinued.
- New Pointe Rentals will not be taken at this time. Those already scheduled through the end of the month will be honored. If you would like to reschedule an existing reservation, please call our office at (810)385-4489.
- The Chapel will not be available for funeral services at Memorial Sunset Gardens
McLaren Port Huron
McLaren Port Huron is restricting visitors to all areas of our campus, with the following exceptions:
- Obstetric patients may have one partner and one birth support person accompany them
- Pediatric patients may have one adult visitor
- ICU patients may have one visitor if the patient is in critical condition
- Visitor exceptions will be made for patients who are at end-of-life
- Patients who are mentally disabled or have developmental delays (where caregiver provides safety) may have one visitor
- Patients undergoing surgery or procedures may have one visitor who is expected to leave the medical center as soon as possible after the procedure/surgery
- Patients who have an outpatient appointment within the hospital, laboratory, diagnostic imaging or a procedure may have one visitor
- Patients visiting the ER may have one visitor
All visitors will be screened upon entry. Visitors should be healthy and must comply with our COVID-19 screening process, designed to identify symptoms of respiratory infection (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath.) Visitors are expected to remain with the patient during their visits, unless otherwise directed by our clinical staff. No visitors will be allowed in rooms of patients with pending or positive COVID-19 tests.
McLaren Port Huron has cancelled the following programs and events in March on the hospital’s campus:
March 14:
Bariatric Surgery Seminar
Multiple Sclerosis Support Group
March 17:
Benefits for Veterans
Breastfeeding 101
March 18:
Heart to Heart Support Group
Overeaters Anonymous
March 19:
Medicare 101
Medicare Counseling Appointments
Bariatric Surgery Seminar
March 21:
Children’s Fun & Fitness Festival
March 24:
Joint Connections Education
March 25:
Overeaters Anonymous
March 26:
Beauty & Healing
Joint Connections Education
March 30:
Childbirth Education: Comfort & Relaxation During the Birthing Process
McLaren Port Huron will evaluate conditions in the coming weeks to determine the status of programs and events in April.
For more related to these services go to: https://www.mclaren.org/main/coronavirus-covid-19
Lake Huron Medical Center:
At this time, for the health and safety of visitors and their loved ones receiving care, Lake Huron Medical Center is asking all visitors to use the main entrance of the hospital – where they will be asked a series of screening questions. Because they are at a higher risk, we are restricting visitors 14 years and younger and recommend visitors 65 and older do not visit their loved one. Sick patients and direct admits needing emergency care are asked to continue to use the Emergency Department entrance.
St. Clair County Health Department:
- No walk-in Mondays for vaccinations at main location
- No appointments for vaccinations at main location
For more related to these services go to: https://www.stclaircounty.org/offices/health/
St. Clair County Community College
In response to the uncertainty of the coronavirus situation, on-campus classes will be cancelled until April 5. Online classes will continue as scheduled. Faculty will work to transition on-campus courses to alternative formats over the next week and be in contact with students. While the situation continues to evolve, please note that the alternative class solutions may remain in place for the balance of the Winter 2020 semester. Further updates will be provided as details related to the coronavirus become available. In the event you are not comfortable with the alternative course options, please contact your instructor(s) or Student Services at 810-989-5560 for accommodations.
Blue Water YMCA
The Blue Water YMCA is closing until further notice effective Tuesday, March 17. This includes suspending all regular programs, events and workshops. The timeline will be defined based upon how the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop. The YMCA Wallbank Child Development Center is considered an essential service and will remain open. The staff in the center will be following enhanced precautions recommended by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Leprechaun Loop: The Leprechaun Loop is scheduled for this Saturday, March 14th. There are growing concerns about the potential spread of coronavirus, and in an effort to comply with the state request to limit large gatherings, the YMCA has determined that it would be best to transition the 2020 Leprechaun Loop into a ‘virtual run.’ An email is being sent to all runners that are registered for the event with more information.
Suspension of Active Older Adult Programming: Anyone 60 or older or of any age with a chronic medical condition including heart disease, lung disease or diabetes falls into an “at-risk” category for this disease. Out of an abundance of caution for seniors, the YMCA has suspended programming specifically targeted at this audience for the next two weeks while they monitor the situation.
FIRST Robotics
Immediate suspension of the current FIRST season and the cancellation of both Championship events.
Council on Aging
The Council on Aging, at the recommendation of the County Health Department is canceling or postponing all larger activities at this time. This includes events like March Mania at the Port Huron Center, and the Llama Races in Marine City.
With a confirmed case of the Covid virus in St. Clair County, the CoA is canceling all activities at the four senior centers for the next two weeks and all of the congregate meal sites will be closed. If you or a senior that you know could benefit from receiving a home delivered meal during this time please call the Council on Aging.
It is being strongly encouraged that seniors, especially those with weakened immune systems stay home. In-home services and home-delivered meals programs will continue and staff are taking extra measures to make sure these services are delivered safely.
For more information on these services go to: http://www.thecouncilonaging.org/
NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Tournament
The state of Michigan, home to the DII women’s basketball championship in Port Huron, MI has limited all public events to no more than 100 spectators. In order to comply with Michigan protocol, the NJCAA has made the decision to limit the NJCAA DII Women’s Basketball Championship to student-athletes, coaches, team personnel, and necessary college administrators.
UPDATE 2:15 3/11: TOURNAMENT POSTPONED
The National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division II women’s basketball championship set to be played in Port Huron next week has been postponed. The 16 team tournament was scheduled at the St. Clair County Community College (SC4) Fieldhouse for March 17-21.
Initially, tournament organizers had announced the games would continue, without fans, but as of 2:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon, a representative from the Blue Water Convention and Visitors Bureau confirmed that tournament organizers had postponed the event and were in the process of advising local hotels of the cancellations.
Representatives from the college and Visitors Bureau had previously stated the tournament was expected to bring in thousands of guests and substantial economic impact. At this time, a rescheduled date has not been announced.
For more information on this event and its status go to: https://sc4.edu/coronavirus/
