Tag Archives: masks

The masks come off at many local health providers

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

Emergency medical staff from Trinity Health Michigan photographed removing masks following an announcement that many local hospitals would be relaxing their mask requirements for employees, patients and visitors. (Courtesy, Trinity Health Michigan)

Starting today, many area health organizations are taking the masks off.

University of Michigan Health-West and Corewell Health have announced masks will be optional in most areas starting today with Trinity Health Michigan starting optional mask wearing on Monday, April 17.

For the facilities, the decision was made after reviewing recent COVID-19 medical data, and much considerations and conversations with leaders at other health systems. The move comes as the number of COVID-19 infections in West Michigan continues to decrease, and many community members have some level of immunity from immunization or prior infection. 

University of Michigan Health-West

Patients and visitors will not be required to wear masks in UMH-West facilities except when they are seeking medical care for respiratory symptoms of COVID-19, visiting patients in precautions for COVID-19, or if a household contact has COVID-19. The discontinuation of the mask mandate applies to both inpatient areas and ambulatory centers.

There are several situations in which healthcare team members will be required to continue masking, including interacting with patients who have an immunodeficiency, who have received a transplant, residing in long-term care facilities, have an acute respiratory illness, or who request the healthcare team to wear a mask.

“After more than three years since the pandemic changed our lives in many ways, we want to thank all of our patients, their families, and our staff members for their commitment to keeping each other safe by masking every day. The decision to discontinue the mask mandate is in recognition of the low number of COVID-19 patients and the immunity level of many community members,” said Dr. Ronald Grifka, Chief Medical Officer at UMH-West.

The UMH-West leadership team encourages everyone to continue to practice good hygiene habits, including covering coughs and sneezes and handwashing. Additionally, the hospital system continues to monitor COVID-19 cases closely and will take appropriate measures as needed to protect the health and safety of its patients, visitors, and staff members.

Trinity Health Michigan

Starting on April 17, there will be optional masking for patients, visitors and colleagues at hospitals, outpatient facilities, home health, and physical offices, except for senior living communities.

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

As of Thursday, April 13, employees and visitors are no longer required to wear a mask except in 24/7 patient care settings and specialty care units. Patients will continue to be screened/tested for COVID-19 at admission and are not required to mask unless endorsing symptoms f illness or diagnosed with COVID-19 infection.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation

Starting today, masking is recommended but optional for patients, visitor and clinical teams at the Grand Rapids hospital campus, West Michigan outpatient locations, and Mary Free Bed Orthotics and Prosthetic+Bionics locations. The Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation program will continue to require masks for patients, visitors and staff. 

Trinity Health Michigan does have a list of what health organizations are doing. To see that list, click here.

CDC moves Kent County to ‘substantial’ COVID-19 risk level, masks recommended for indoors

3-bottom, Community Health, Health,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised the risk level of COVID-19 infection from ‘moderate’ to ‘substantial’ for Kent County. The CDC recommends everyone in areas with a risk designation of ‘substantial’ or ‘high’ wear a face mask in indoor public places, regardless of vaccination status. The CDC data tracker can be viewed here.

The CDC defines ‘substantial’ transmission as 50-100 cases per 100,000 people, or a positivity rate between 8 and 9.9 percent in the past seven days. Kent County currently has a seven-day positivity rate of 6.68 percent. The current seven-day average for new cases in Kent County is 52.52 per 100,000.

With the move to ‘substantial’ risk level, masks are recommended for indoor activities.

The COVID-19 vaccine cannot prevent 100% of infections, but it does prevent many of them. Also, infections among vaccinated people are less severe than those who have not been vaccinated.

“The vast majority of people who are becoming infected with COVID-19 in Kent County are unvaccinated,” says Dr. Adam London, Director of the Kent County Health Department. “The vaccines that are available are effective, safe and available. They remain our best tool for ending this pandemic, so we encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

The CDC and the Kent County Health Department recommend the following guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

  • Get vaccinated – find out more here
  • Wear a mask or face covering in all indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status,especially now that the risk level has changed to substantial
  • Practice good handwashing hygiene
  • Avoid large crowds and maintain social distance from people outside of your household
  • Get tested if you have symptoms or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19

When life threw us COVID-19, Theatricks decided to make masks

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Health, Local Business, , ,
David Johnson, owner of Theatricks cuts strips of elastic for masks. (WKTV)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

As area theater companies began to cancel productions due to gathering restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, Theatricks owners David Johnson and Kateri Kline-Johnson went from making costumes to making masks.

“It was an easy switch,” said David Johnson during an interview at his costume shop Theatricks, 2136 Plainfield Ave. SE. “As theaters closed, we just went from making costumes to making masks. We didn’t think much of it. We figured we would probably make about 100 to 200 masks.”

About ten weeks and more than 2,000 masks later, Johnson said the shop has been able to make enough masks to stay open during the pandemic, keep the three employees — himself, his wife, and another employee — employed, plus cover all the building’s utility costs as well as the supply cost for the masks. Johnson owns the building that his business is located in.

Some of the masks available at Theatricks. (WKTV)

“We have not had to take out any government loans or layoff any employees,” Johnson said. 

The group decided to offer up a basic mask, made of two pieces of 100 percent cotton with non-adjustable elastic straps. This mask comes in small, for children 2-11, and adult regular and large. They also make a mask with a pocket to place a filter and adjustable elastic straps.

As surgical and N95 masks became harder to find along with the Michigan guidelines that residents should wear a mask while in public places, cloth masks became the answer. According to the Mayo Clinic, cloth masks can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus by people who have COVID-19 but don’t realize it.

“One of the hardest things we ran into was getting the supplies needed to make the masks,” Johnson said. With only word-of-mouth and social media as advertising for the store’s masks, Theatriks was inundated with requests.

This coupled with the fact that many had taken up making homemade masks, made getting the needed elastic for the masks tough. So the Johnsons innovated and started making masks with a tie made from corset lacing. 

Theatricks owner David Johnson with some the masks that are available at the Plainfield Avenue store. (WKTV)

Johnson said they listened to customers about specific needs such as how the elastic on a mask could start to hurt the ears after long periods of use. So they designed a mask with the elastic going over the head instead of around the ears.

Then a customer came in with the suggestion of making a headband with buttons on either side for the mask’s elastic band, which the store started making as well.

While costs for materials have gone up, Johsnon said the couple made the decision early on to keep the price for the masks low, which start at $3 for a basic mask and goes up for the speciality masks.

“We honestly, really did not think that it would take off as much as it did,” Johnson said, adding that they have had individuals come in to buy a few masks to churches and organizations ordering more than 100.

Having been in business for 39 years, Theatricks is known for building and providing costumes to community, college, and high school theater productions. The store staff also makes period pieces for those who participate in Civil War reenactments and Renaissance festivals.

“We actually have had a few people coming in to have costumes made for the Renaissance fairs for when they start back up again,” Johnson said, adding he usually has a booth at the fairs for costumes and other related items.  Johnson said he is hoping that the Michigan Renaissance Festival in Holly, Mich., will still take place in late August.

Also over the past few weeks, local theater companies have been reaching out as well as they look ahead to their upcoming productions and the possibility of being able to open in the fall, Johnson said. 

Still it is quiet in the store with Johnson spending a portion of his time cutting elastic in the north corner of the shop that is filled with costumes, masks, wigs, make up and jewelry. The actually sewing area is a clean room with only those making the masks allowed in.

“It’s all done by hand,” he said with a laugh as he measured out the elastic strips. We chat for a few minutes and then I gather up my prize — five brand new masks.

Oliver Art Center hosts ‘Make a Mask, Make a Difference’ contest

Community Health, Entertainment,
Oliver Center for the Arts is looking for the most creative masks in its Make a Mask, make a Difference contest. (Public Domain)

By Elizabeth Lane
Oliver Center for the Arts

 Oliver Art Center is helping give back to our frontline workers and healthcare professionals. They have created a ‘Make a Mask, Make a Difference’ contest for handmade masks. Now through July 6, they are accepting donations of handmade masks from crafters, designers, seamstresses, and artists of all ages. The masks need to be latex free, made of breathable fabric, and washable. Both elastic and tie versions are accepted. Submissions will be judged on overall creativity and originality. There will be both a youth and adult bracket with cash prizes! Adults first place receives $250 and Youth first place receives $75. Prizewinners will be announced July 13 and then the masks will be donated to local organizations that need them for employees or volunteers.

“COVID-19 has impacted so many people and we would like to support all of the health professionals and essential workers going to work for us while risking not only their health but that of their family as well,” said Kelly Winter, OAC board member and project coordinator.

“We are hoping to gather 200 masks during this contest. Cash prizes have been donated by an anonymous donor to help encourage folks to create masks as well as provide financial assistance to local creators in a small way. We are always saying how art is beneficial to your health, and this contest is bringing that to light,” says Mercedes Michalowski, Executive Director of Oliver Art Center. Once the masks are collected, they will be photographed and featured in an online exhibition via the art center.

GVSU alumna launches ‘Headband Aid’ to relief to those wearing masks for extended hours

3-bottom, Local Business, ,
The Headband Aid features buttons to help secure a face mask. (Supplied)

By Dottie Barnes
gvsu.edu

Frontline workers responding to COVID-19, along with many others who are returning to their jobs, are wearing masks all day long. Some are experiencing irritation, especially around their ears.

Katarina Samardzija, a 2019 graduate of Grand Valley State University and founder of Locker Lifestyle, took notice. Locker Lifestyle produces athletic clothing with storage pouches.

“I had all of these athletic headbands in stock that have been tested for comfort and fit by marathon runners,” said Samardzija. “I recruited my grandmother, who is a seamstress, to help sew buttons on the headbands. The buttons allow you to attach a surgical mask to relieve irritation behind the ears.”

The Pocket Headband for women and men has non-slip gel dots and a pocket in back, secured by Velcro®, to carry money, keys or even a spare mask. In April, Samardzija made a demonstration video, which went viral. She and her work crew, consisting of her mother and grandmother, have shipped about 600 Headband Aids all over the country.

Katarina Samardzija’s grandmother (left) helped Katarina with the design of the Headband Aid. (Supplied)

Samardzija earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Grand Valley with a double major in marketing and entrepreneurship. She was also a member of the GVSU Women’s Tennis team. She was headed to tennis practice in 2016, when she got the idea for Locker Lifestyle.

“I got tired of carrying all of my belongings to the gym. The first product I made, which is our best seller, is the Wrist Wallet. It holds items like an ID, money, keys, lip balm. My friends started knocking on my door wanting one,” she said.

Samardzija connected with Grand Valley’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and began competing for startup funds. She has participated in about 14 competitions to date to help fund patents and to manufacture products.

“Runners World” magazine named Locker Lifestyle products the top gear to have in 2020; in 2019, Samardzija was named one of the Newsmakers of the Year by the “Grand Rapids Business Journal;” and in 2018, she was the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest Bronze Prize Winner.

Samardzija said her education and connections at Grand Valley have proven invaluable.

“The support from the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation has been a continual resource,” she said. “I connect with Shorouq Almallah and Matthew Larson from CEI on a monthly basis to stay in touch and discuss growth.”

Find out more about her products at www.lockerlifestyle.com