Former Trump-era COVID-19 response coordinator Deborah Birx said in an interview Monday on “Good Morning America” that she demanded that the White House retract then-President Trump’s comment on potentially using disinfectant against COVID-19.

Trump’s comment, made during a briefing on April 23, 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, implied that injected disinfectant could help fight the coronavirus.

“It knocks it out in a minute, one minute,” said Trump, turning to experts at the press briefing, including Birx. “And is there a way we can do something like that, like by injection inside or almost a cleaning?”

Trump continued, “Because, you see, it gets in the lungs and it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it’d be interesting to check that so that you don’t have to use medical doctors, but it sounds interesting to me.”

Birx said she “immediately went to his most senior staff … and said this has to be reversed immediately.”

“And by the next morning, the president was saying it was a joke. But I think he knew by that evening, clearly, that this was dangerous,” she added.

Birx, who referred to the debacle as a “tragedy on many levels,” said that the discussion about disinfectants had occurred between Trump and a researcher who had presented data on COVID-19 prevention.

“That scientist went into the Oval Office, and they started that discussion there, and they continued it in front of America,” Birx explained.

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Birx said that while some comments made by the Trump administration were concerning, there was a “dichotomy” between what was being said and what was being done.

“So when the president was talking about decreasing testing he was signing defense production acts of billions of dollars to increase testing,” she said.

“So that was my metric,” Birx continued. “Are we making progress on the core parameters that I think are critical to save American lives?”

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Originally Appeared Here

As the world opens up amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, travelers have come to expect more frequent cleaning and disinfecting in the spaces they occupy – but it does not have to come at the expense of healthy indoor air quality.

While uncertainty about how the virus spread during the early days of the pandemic led to a significant increase in the use of harsh cleaning chemicals, two years later we have much better information that allows hotels to protect guests both from the virus and from the negative health effects of exposure to disinfecting chemicals.

Cleaning for COVID Starts with Accurate Information

From the very beginning of the pandemic, scientists understood that coronaviruses break down easily with plain soap and water or regular cleaning solution. However, most businesses acted on a natural instinct to turn to the harshest cleaning chemicals available: disinfectants.

Today we know that the virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets, and the risk of surface transmission is extremely low. In fact, research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the chance of being infected with COVID-19 from touching a contaminated surface is less than 1 in 10,000.

This means that covering surfaces with chemicals will not necessarily help prevent the spread of COVID, but it could lead to significant health risks for building occupants. Hotel and lodging properties can guard against viruses and other germs – while also protecting the building’s indoor air quality and the health and safety of guests – by understanding how to choose safer products and when disinfecting is appropriate.

Travelers’ Expectations are Changing

Despite recommendations from the CDC, hotel guests are looking for evidence that substantial cleaning and disinfecting are taking place. So, while the risk of surface-born infection is extremely low, business still must reassure people about safety amid the continuing pandemic. In fact, a 2020 study revealed that 85 percent of consumers want to see visible proof of cleaning.

“The pandemic has placed cleanliness, safety, and security at the forefront of what we now consider luxury, and these criteria are now the priority to pick and choose a hotel to stay at,” says Cecile Sandral-Lasbordes, Director of PR & Marketing – Guest Experience & Quality Leader for Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, a Green Seal-certified property. “Guests are more alert and educated than ever on cleaning measures and how to fight germs, and they want transparency on what we are doing at the hotel level. But they also want these measures to become part of the overall hotel stay, not disconnected from it. The cleaning and disinfecting need to elevate the experience, not create a context of fear.”

Ninety-five percent of customers responding to a 2021 study said they want to see cleaning practices stay the same or increase even after the COVID vaccine is widespread, indicating that effective cleaning and disinfecting are more than a short-term trend. Guests continue to demand more from housekeeping personnel, underscoring the importance of maintaining a robust cleaning plan for both guest safety and peace of mind.

“Understanding the new expectations and learning to evolve with them is key,” says Sandral-Lasbordes. “The pandemic has taught us that we need to be flexible to survive. Transparency is also extremely important, as well as constantly training our team members to stay up to date with the latest rules and regulations and how to reimagine our work.”

Avoiding a Dangerous Reliance on Disinfectants

Because of the nature of the COVID-19 virus, masking, vaccines, and regular handwashing are the most effective precautions against its spread. However, cleaning and disinfecting are among several additional measures that can help protect guests and reassure them about the safety of a property’s indoor environment.

While regular cleaning is typically effective at removing most virus particles on surfaces, targeted disinfection is sometimes appropriate – such as when someone confirmed or suspected to be infected with COVID has been in the building within the past 24 hours. Otherwise, cleaning regularly is sufficient, so hotel staff do not have to worry about cleaning every time a guest or employee touches a surface.

Even when disinfecting is appropriate, it’s only effective after regular cleaning, as cleaning removes dirt and grime that viruses can hide under. It is also vital to ensure housekeeping employees are using the appropriate cleaning products for the surface, that the products are certified for health and performance, and that housekeeping employees are trained on disinfectants’ dwell times, which can range from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

Though disinfectants are sometimes needed, they are not harmless: Repeated or extended exposures to disinfecting chemicals can lead to significant health effects. Some common disinfectant ingredients, such as quaternary ammonium compounds, are linked to asthma and reproductive toxicity.

Exposure poses an especially grave risk for the 1 in 13 Americans with asthma – a group that is high-risk for COVID-19. This means that overusing disinfectants to combat the virus can worsen the problem you are trying to solve. Even low levels of indoor air pollutants like these can trigger respiratory symptoms, so it’s critical that hospitality properties make safer choices for the comfort and safety of guests and employees.

Choosing Safer Cleaning Products and Disinfectants

Choosing safer, verified-effective cleaning products – especially those that do not contain asthmagens or respiratory irritants – is critical to protecting hotel staff and guests. Conventional cleaners commonly contain endocrine disruptors and carcinogens, which have been linked to a variety of diseases. Only a few hundred of the 80,000-plus chemicals registered for use in the U.S. have been evaluated for health and environmental effects – so the chemicals inside your cleaning products matter more than you might initially think.

In addition to respiratory irritants, conventional cleaners commonly contain chemicals that can disrupt the endocrine system. The endocrine system is like the body’s conductor – setting the rhythm for metabolism, growth, mood, and sleep patterns. Endocrine disrupting chemicals are linked to a plethora of adverse health effects including hormone changes, lower sperm counts, birth defects, obesity, diabetes, thyroid irregularities, reduced immune function, and reduced vaccine response. Due to the hazardous nature of these chemicals, some third-party certification organizations have restricted endocrine disrupters. Green Seal, for example, prohibits phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol ethoxylates (the byproducts of alkylphenols), and glycol ethers in certified cleaning products.

While housekeepers are most at risk from exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals, other employees and hotel guests also come into contact with these products daily. To protect people while they are in your space, procurement managers can look for products that have been verified for health, safety, and performance by a credible third-party organization. Green Seal maintains a publicly accessible directory of certified products at certified.greenseal.org.

Like cleaning products, some disinfectants are safer for human and environmental health than others. However, identifying these products can be more challenging because the U.S. EPA does not allow third-party certifications for disinfecting solutions. Purchasers instead must rely on product ingredient labels and resources from leading ecolabels to distinguish safer formulas.

The U.S. EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus is a great resource for finding products that are effective against the COVID-19 virus. This list, however, does not identify which products use safer active ingredients. Green Seal recommends choosing approved disinfectants with safer active ingredients such as citric acid, hydrogen peroxide, or isopropyl alcohol, which are not linked to asthma, cancer, endocrine disruption, or DNA damage. A full list of recommended safer active disinfecting ingredients, as well as examples of List N products that use these ingredients, is available here.

How to Safely Adapt to Traveler Demands

In addition to selecting safer cleaning and disinfecting products, lodging properties can promote safety, sustainability, and equity by implementing proven-effective cleaning practices, strengthening cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and effectively communicating their efforts with guests.

Green Seal’s Guidelines for Safer Cleaning and Disinfection for Workplaces offer science-based guidance on best practices. These guidelines align with the LEED Safety First Pilot Credit for Cleaning and Disinfecting, another resource hotel and lodging properties can rely on. The guidelines lay out five actionable best practices for property owners and managers:

• Create a cleaning and disinfection plan, following CDC and EPA guidance. The plan should identify high-touch surfaces and implement a policy that goes beyond visual inspections to regularly verify the effectiveness of cleaning and disinfecting.
• Ensure that housekeeping staff are properly trained on the safe handling of all cleaning and disinfecting products, effective cleaning procedures, and the use and maintenance of cleaning equipment. This includes training housekeeping staff to prioritize ventilation by opening windows and running fans, when possible, and to follow the instructions on product labels, including dwell times. Training should also include best practices for preventing ergonomic injuries and using and disposing of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce injuries and exposure to harmful chemicals.
• Select products that maintain sustainability and healthy indoor air. This includes choosing certified green cleaning products and disinfectants with safer active ingredients.
• Provide safer working conditions for housekeeping staff. Use the most effective PPE for cleaning and disinfecting and use ergonomic cleaning equipment with features that reduce worker injuries.
• Communicate the cleaning and disinfecting plan to other employees and guests so everyone can understand what measures are in place to protect safety. As travelers demand more visibility into businesses’ cleaning protocols, effectively communicating your lodging property’s protective requirements is more important than ever.

In addition to following the above guidelines, hotels that want to verify that they are adhering to best practices for cleaning performance and health protection can apply for certification or validation from independent organizations including Green Seal, LEED, WELL, or Fitwel.

Promoting Equity Through Green Cleaning and Disinfecting

Using safe, effective green cleaning and disinfecting practices offers the same health and performance benefits as before the pandemic, but the stakes are greater now, since excessive use of hazardous chemicals has become the norm.

The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the roles and sacrifices of housekeeping professionals. These frontline workers put their own health on the line to protect the health of others. Promoting safer cleaning products and practices offers a significant opportunity to promote social equity for the members of this behind-the-scenes workforce, who are predominantly members of under-represented and marginalized communities.

Several studies found that both domestic and professional cleaning work are associated with increased risk of asthma and other respiratory effects. In fact, the first long-term study of the effects of cleaning chemicals on lung function found that regular use of cleaning sprays can cause a decline in lung function that is comparable to smoking 20 cigarettes per day.

Hotels can promote equity by sourcing certified green cleaning products; choosing List-N disinfectants that use safer active ingredients; and adhering to independent, science-based guidelines, such as Green Seal’s Disinfecting Guidelines or the LEED Safety First Pilot Credit for Cleaning and Disinfecting.

Society’s understanding of the virus has evolved over the course of the pandemic, and so must the response. Hotel guests now have an unprecedented interest in indoor air quality that is expected to long outlast the pandemic. By following the latest independent, science-based guidance on cleaning and disinfecting, hospitality property owners and managers can provide assurance that they are on top of the necessary measures to protect the health of guests and employees effectively and holistically.

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(Lindenwold, NJ) – Early Monday morning the Mosquito Control Commission will be in the community spraying and surveilling areas throughout Camden County. Summer weather has created an ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed.

With rain in the forecast for the week Commissioner Jeff Nash, liaison to the Camden County Mosquito Commission, talked about being cognizant of standing water.

“Please remember that after any rainfall, homeowners should check their yard and remove any standing water to help eliminate the threat of mosquitos,” Nash said. “Mosquitos need standing water to breed, so you can help keep them off your property by removing water from places like flowerpots and containers. This helps us reduce the pest population in your neighborhood, and it assists the efforts of the Camden County Mosquito Control Commission.”

The Camden County Mosquito Commission will be conducting ULV “spraying” operations on Monday, June 27 between the hours of 2am-6am in the following locations:   

Cherry Hill

Knollwood Dr.

Coach Ln.

Darby Ln.

Eddy Ln.

Forge Ln.

Glen Ln.

Lafferty Dr.

Bellows Ln.

Chapel Ave.

Meryl Ln.

Pebble Ln.

Orchid Ln.

Kings Hwy.

Wagon Ln.

Tarry Ln.

Sherry Way

Holly Glen Dr.

Pams Path

Covered Bridge Rd.

Covered Bridge Ct.

Tarrington Rd.

Tarrington Ct.

Black Barron Rd.

Bentwood Dr.

Charleston Rd.

Fern Ave.

Clover Rd.

Heritage Rd.

Heritage Ct.

Gravel Bend Rd.

Horse Shoe Ct.

Bancroft Dr.

White Oak Rd.

Willow Way Ct.

Willow Way Pl.

Cotswold Ln.

 

Berlin

Thackara Ave.

Central Ave.

Moss Ave.

Rich Ave.

1. Broad Ave.

Leroy Ave.

1. Park Dr.

Estaugh Ave.

1. Taunton Ave.

Gardens Ave.

Toomer Ave.

Cooper Rd.

1. Taunton Ave.

Oak Ln.

Oak Ct.

Oak Ave.

Day Ave.

Glover Ave.

Chestnut Ave.

Centaurian Dr.

Centaurian Ct.

Acord Rd.

Peppermill Rd,

Briarwood Rd.

Briarwood Ct.

Marion Ave.

Myrtle Ave.

Magnolia Ave.

Larch Ave.

Hazel Ave.

Spruce Ave.

Cushman Ave.

Division Ave.

Cedar Ave.

Powell Ave.

 

Gloucester Twp.

Spruce Dr.

Oak Dr.

Maple Dr.

Birch Dr.

Powell Dr.

Patricia Ln.

Andrews Rd.

Preston Dr.

Pritchard Ln.

Parkhill Ln.

Peachton Ln.

Pinewood Ln.

Piedmond Ln.

Penfield Ln.

Peoria Ln.

Peoria Ct.

Pierson Pl.

Holly Dr.

Elm Dr.

 

“The commission works with the Public Health Environmental Laboratories in Trenton to verify the presence of West Nile Virus and other communicable diseases in their samples,” Nash said.  “If a pool tests positive, the Mosquito Commission returns to spray the area. The sprayings take place when the mosquitoes are most active.”

The mosquito spray is not harmful to humans or pets, but you should avoid direct contact if you have respiratory concerns or are sensitive to irritants.

Residents should check their property for any object that holds water for more than a few days.  All pre-adult mosquito stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) must be in stagnant water in order to develop into adult mosquitoes.                                                                                                 

• Swimming pools are a common problem.  All pools must be checked and maintained to keep them mosquito-free.  Swimming pools can breed mosquitoes within days after you stop adding chlorine or other disinfectant.  Pool covers can catch rainwater and become a mosquito development site. Add a little chlorine to kill mosquitoes.
• Maintain screens to prevent adult mosquitoes from entering your home or business.
• Personal protection is strongly urged if you are outside when mosquitoes may be active—generally dawn and dusk.  Insect repellants containing between 10-35% DEET are very effective, however, be sure to follow the label directions and take extra precautions with children and infants.

The Camden County Mosquito Commission suggests checking around your yard for mosquito breeding containers.  The following is a checklist of tips to help eliminate mosquito breeding:

• Dispose of unnecessary containers that hold water.  Containers you wish to save turn upside down or put holes in the bottom so all water drains out.    
• Lift up flowerpots and dump the water from the dish underneath every week.
• Stock fish or add mosquito larvicide to ornamental ponds.
• Change water in bird baths, fountains, and animal troughs weekly.
• Screen vents to septic and other water tanks.
• Store large boats so they drain and small boats upside down.  If covered, keep the tarp tight so water does not pool on top of the tarp.
• Do not dump leaves or grass clippings into a catch basin or streams.
• Do not allow water to collect on sagging tarps or awnings.
• Do not allow trashcan lids to fill with water.
• Check downspouts that are able to hold enough water to allow mosquito larvae to mature.

For more information, or to report a problem, contact the Camden County Mosquito Commission at (856) 566-2945 or [email protected].

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Originally Appeared Here

You should clean and disinfect your bathroom at least weekly.

Image Credit:
LIVESTRONG.com Creative

How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors you’ve heard might be unhealthy.

In This Article

With all the foot traffic they get, public restrooms are ridiculously dirty. It’s why you never touch the faucet without a tissue in hand or opt to push the door open with your hip.

You don’t need to worry about these icky germs at home, though, right?

Well, not so fast. Hate to break it to you, but research has found that private bathrooms harbor the same potentially harmful pathogens as public lavatories, including Staphylococcus, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), human papilloma virus (HPV) and herpes, according to University of Chicago Medicine.

And if you haven’t cleaned your bathroom in a while, odds are it’s crawling with even more of these creepy critters. So you’re probably wondering what this means for your health.

We spoke to Kelly Reynolds, PhD, director of the Environment, Exposure Science and Risk Assessment Center at the University of Arizona, to get the 411 on whether a begrimed bathroom can make you sick (plus tips on how and how often you should clean your bathroom).

What Germs Are Lurking in a Dirty Bathroom?

A lengthy list of live microorganisms can linger in an unclean lavatory.

“Fungus, including mold, mildew, yeasts and some types of bacteria rapidly build up in bathroom environments,” Reynolds says. “These humidity-loving microbes can be seen in the corners and crevices of showers, sinks, faucet handles and toilet bowls, and they can even grow on floors and walls.”

Can These Germs Make You Ill?

It’s possible that an unsanitary bathroom space can make you sick, especially if you have a weakened immune system. Here are a few ways a rank restroom may wreak havoc on your health:

1. May Exacerbate Respiratory Issues

“Bacteria commonly found in showers can cause lung infections, particularly in persons who are already immunocompromised (for example, persons with chronic infections, cancer or autoimmune diseases),” Reynolds says.

Indeed, showerheads and faucets can amass many meddling microbes, including a bad bacteria called Legionella pneumophilia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And when vulnerable people — like older adults, immunocompromised individuals and those with chronic lung disease and other underlying health problems — breathe or ingest water containing Legionella, they can develop a serious lung infection called Legionnaires’ disease, per the CDC.

Other pathogens in your bathroom can result in respiratory issues, too. Case in point: mold. “Allergies to mold are very common, and exposures to increased levels can trigger allergic reactions or asthma,” Reynolds says.

Tip

If you experience symptoms of a mold allergy, like sneezing, wheezing or itchy eyes, nose or throat, visit your doctor for treatment, according to the Mayo Clinic.

2. Can Cause Skin Infections

A soiled bathroom may also sabotage your skin health.

“Moist bathroom environments can readily support the growth of Trychophyton fungi, the causative agent of athlete’s foot in shared showers,” Reynolds says. And by shared, we mean any shower stall that’s used by anyone other than you (think: your partner, roommate, etc.)

Athlete’s foot is “an infection that causes symptoms of dry, flaky and itchy skin on the foot, and may spread to other areas of the body if left untreated,” she says.

But fungi aren’t your only foe. In addition to athlete’s foot, other common viral and bacterial skin infections you may pick up in a tainted tub include warts, HPV and MRSA, according to the University of Utah Health.

And your risk of contracting one of these pesky skin pathogens increases when you have an open cut or blister on your foot and/or you have a weakened immune system, per the University of Utah Health.

3. May Produce Stomach Problems

If you’re having unexplained tummy trouble, your sullied shower could be the source of your stomach woes.

Here’s why: “Ingestion of bacteria that accumulate in showers [such as E. coli] could also cause diarrhea or symptoms of the stomach flu [think: nausea and vomiting],” Reynolds says.

Wait, how the heck do E. coli bacteria (which are typically found in fecal matter) end up in your tub? Simple: If someone poops and doesn’t wash their hands, their filthy fingers can spread germs to anything they touch, including sinks, shower stalls and every surface in your bathroom.

And the next person who uses the restroom runs the risk of becoming infected. When you touch a dirty shower surface, you can easily transfer harmful bacteria to the mouth, Reynolds says.

While most E. coli infections normally resolve without treatment in a week or so, sometimes serious blood and kidney problems may develop in vulnerable populations like children and older adults, according to the University of Michigan Health.

Warning

If you have bloody diarrhea as the result of an E. coli infection (or any other condition, for that matter), that’s a sign you need to see your doctor ASAP, per the University of Michigan Health.

How Often Should You Deep Clean Your Bathroom?

There’s no straightforward answer to this question. “It depends in part on how often it is used, how well it is ventilated and how dirty the surfaces are,” Reynolds says.

That said, “a good routine is to clean and disinfect bathroom surfaces at least weekly or more often depending on use and how susceptible you are to infections,” she adds.

How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom

Here are Reynolds tips for maintaining a microbe-free restroom:

1. Clean the Floor and Walls in the Shower and Bathroom

“Grout lines in showers, sinks or on walls and floors can be challenging to keep dry and microbe-free,” Reynolds says. But a little elbow grease can go a long way to get rid of germs hanging around grout.

Each week, use a mild soap detergent and brush to scrub away any visible grub, paying special attention to the grout.

Then apply a disinfectant spray designed specifically to kill microbes, Reynolds says.

Tip

Sprays — which can cover larger surface areas — are more suited for showers, walls and floors than wipes, Reynolds says.

2. Disinfect Sinks and Toilets

Disinfecting wipes are great for quick decontamination of sink, toilet and other handles, Reynolds says. Wiping down these areas every week will keep the bacteria and other bugs at bay.

And for inside the toilet bowl, a disinfect spray coupled with a toilet brush (that can tackle tough-to-reach surfaces like under the rim) will do the trick.

3. Don’t Forget Your Shower Curtains

“Shower curtains tend to be the most likely sites for the accumulation of microbes in bathrooms,” Reynolds says. So keeping curtains clean is key.

Laundering your shower curtain (as long as it’s washing-machine safe) once or twice a month can help keep it from becoming a hotspot for germ growth, Reynolds says.

If it’s not machine-washable, spray it with a sanitizer (which you can also do if you have shower doors), Reynolds says.

The same goes for bathmats, which can be a bastion for bacteria and other problematic pathogens. Launder (if possible) or use a disinfectant spray to keep microbes from building up.

Remember, “any areas that stay moist for extended times [like bathmats] are prone to contamination,” Reynolds says.

5. Sanitize Your Showerhead

Showerheads can be strongholds for bad biofilms, so they need to be sanitized too, Reynolds says. Add them to the list of shower surfaces to disinfect each week — a disinfectant spray or foaming product will suffice.

Once a year for a deeper clean, unscrew your showerhead, give it a nice soak in a diluted disinfectant solution and then scrub away stubborn dirt, debris or biofilm (an old toothbrush is a terrific tool for this task).

So, How Bad Is It Really to Never Deep Clean Your Bathroom?

The fact is, bathrooms can quickly accumulate microbes. “And if you can see or smell mold or bacteria, you likely have millions of colonies growing,” Reynolds says.

That being said, a less-than-sparkling lavatory likely won’t hinder your health as long as you have a robust immune system.

For most people, a weekly wipe-down with disinfectant will help keep these cooties in check.

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Originally Appeared Here

Surface Care

In order to maintain a clean and healthy space, there are a few things you need to do on a regular basis. First, you need to keep surfaces clean. This means dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning up spills as soon as they happen. Second, you need to declutter your space regularly. This means getting rid of things you don’t need and making sure everything has a designated place. Lastly, you need to disinfect surfaces regularly, especially if someone in your space is sick.

At its core, keeping your space clean and healthy is about preventing the growth and spread of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. However, there are a few other things you can do to help keep your space clean and healthy:

-Use surface cleaners and disinfectants on all surfaces, especially those that are high-touch.

-Make sure to clean and disinfect all surfaces regularly.

-Open windows to let fresh air in as often as you possibly can.

-Vacuum and dust regularly.

-Keep your space clutter-free.

Maintaining Air Quality

There are many things you can do to keep your space clean and healthy. Some of these things are simple, like opening a window to let fresh air in, while others are more involved, like investing in an air purifier. Either way, taking these steps will help you maintain better air quality in your home or office.

One of the most important things you can do to make this happen is to control the sources of pollution in your space. This means keeping things like dust, mold, and chemical fumes out of the air. You can do this by regularly cleaning your space and using natural cleaners instead of harsh chemicals. 

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Originally Appeared Here

By ED RUNYAN

Staff writer

Mahoning County’s new septic-system operation and maintenance program has resulted in more work for Quaker City Concrete Products of Leetonia.

Jeff Foust, Quaker City owner and general manager, said the company has done 15 to 20 percent more septic-tank service work in Mahoning County this year than usual.

Quaker City does not install septic systems or pump out septic tanks, but it does supply the tanks and other materials septic installers use to put in a system. Quaker City also visits customer homes twice per year to help the owners maintain their septic systems.

“Just like in your car, you need to change your oil in it. If you don’t change your oil, it’s going to break down,” he said.

One of the maintenance items the company addresses frequently is aerators, which are motors that push air and oxygen into a septic system to increase the natural bacterial activity and provide additional treatment of the wastewater that a household produces.

Aerators work in conjunction with large filters that have to be serviced every six months, Foust said. “That’s basically just making sure the aeration is working and the filter is clean,” Foust said.

During a recent visit to a customer, two workers removed a large, round filter from one of the three concrete openings in a septic system and replaced it with a clean one. The dirty filter was loaded onto the truck to be cleaned and re-used later.

Some septic system owners have not had their system serviced in decades, so the initial visit by Quaker City can involve some additional service or replacement of parts, Foust said. In some cases, the entire system has to be replaced.

“Some calls from customers we have been getting are for systems that have been in the ground let’s say since 1975, 1978,” Foust said. Even systems like that fall under the county’s new operation and maintenance program, Foust said.

Colton Masters, the county’s director of environmental health, said it is true that many systems will require annual service from a company like Quaker City — but not all.

Systems with motors and electrical hookups need regular maintenance, but septic systems that do not have aerators and other types of motors and systems and only have a septic tank and leach field do not require a maintenance contract with a service provider, Masters said.

“Those are the ones we say that people need to have somebody pump it out once every three years,” Masters said. “The yearly contract is to make sure all of those electrical components stay actively working.”

Masters said there are 17,000 septic systems in Mahoning County.

Foust said Quaker City charges $250 to $350 per year for a septic-service contract, depending on the type of system the owner has and how long it has been since the system was serviced. The annual service charge is for two service calls per year.

“Then they still have to buy the parts that are needed to bring it back up (to standard). So they could be looking at $1,000 to bring it back to where it needs to be,” Faust said of an initial visit.

Some septic systems have other components that may need to be serviced, such as ultraviolet-light and chlorination systems.

LIKE NEW

Foust said Quaker City’s job when making its first visit for a septic system is to repair it so that it is nearly back to the level of when it was new.

“If it was designed, say in 1975, that’s how we have to make it,” Foust said. “Sometimes the health department will say you need to upgrade it a little bit to get something more in there. That’s the health department’s decision.”

After registering the system with Mahoning County Public Health, the homeowner contacts a service provider to come to the home. That means a service provider like Quaker City checks out the system or a pumper pumps out sludge from the septic tank.

Masters said the service provider then fills out a report on the condition of the system and gives a copy to the homeowner and to the health department.

“If that shows there is an issue with the system, that’s when we send our sanitarians out,” Masters said. “We don’t show up for any type of enforcement inspection. Now we will be going out to do essentially spot checks on these to make sure they are being reported accurately,” Masters said.

That also protects the home owner to make sure the services they paid for are being done, he said.

Foust said the health department “will tell us (the septic system) needs a new motor, needs a filter put in, needs chlorine, needs a (ultraviolet disinfectant system).”

A chlorination system feeds chlorine into the wastewater to kill pathogenic bacteria and to reduce odor, according to a 1998 U.S. EPA fact sheet. “Done properly, chlorination will kill more than 99 percent of the harmful bacteria” in household wastewater. Ultraviolet light is an alternative to chlorination, the fact sheet states.

Masters said some of the most up-to-date septic systems require treatment that uses a UV light or chlorinator.

Foust said some customers who are coming into Mahoning County’s new operation and maintenance program are not happy with being required to take extra steps to operate their septic systems. Some think the costs are too high, he said.

“There’s some parts of the county that don’t have money,” Foust said. So far, Columbiana County, where Foust lives, has not implemented a new septic program, he said.

“It is a hardship on them when you say, ‘If you have an aeration system, now I’m charging you an extra $200 or $300 a year that you are not used to paying, plus the fee that goes to the health department,” Foust said.

Masters said the amount a property owner pays to the county health department is between $30 and $125 per year depending on the type of system.

Foust said he believes the intent of the new program is to identify systems that are not working properly and get them in order. Masters added that another reason for the new operation and maintenance program is to make septic systems last longer.

“I’m sure the pumpers are getting more work,” Foust said, adding that the health department is “saying even if your system was built in in 1950, we still want a pumping report to see what kind of condition it is in.”

Masters said the main information the service provider is expected to give to the health department is the condition of the tank. “If they notice other issues, they will report those as well.” Service providers and pumpers are asked to check for “ponding’ of water near a septic system that might indicate a problem with the septic system Masters said.

Foust said having pumpers being asked to watch for issues that could suggest a problem with the septic system puts pumpers in a difficult position.

It has been routine for pumpers to advise their customers if something about the system appears to need an upgrade, “but now they’re supposed to turn it back into the health department,” Foust said.

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Due to an increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in the month of June, the Colorado River Indian Tribes have reinstated their mask mandate for stores, businesses and other public places on Tribal land.

The Colorado River Indian Tribes has been tracking the number of positive cases for April and May 2022. The numbers of cases during these months are as follows:

Month of April 2022 – 5 new positive cases of COVID-19

Month of May 2022 – 18 new positive cases of COVID-19

The Colorado River Indian Tribes has been notified of sixty-one (61) new positive cases of coronavirus from June 1st – June 24rd, 2022. Currently, there are fifteen (15) active cases resulting from individuals who were tested at the Parker Indian Health Center. These individuals are residents of the Colorado River Indian Reservation. This brings the total of COVID cases to 1872. To date, there have been twenty-six (26) Tribal community member COVID related deaths.

For the week of June 23 – June 30, 2022 the Community Level is HIGH

Due to the HIGH level, the CRIT Mask Mandate will be in effect:

• Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status or individual risk.

• All businesses, schools, and other entities shall be required to enforce the wearing of face masks by employees and patrons in accordance with Resolution No. 254-21.

The Department of Health and Social Services will work in conjunction with Parker Indian Health Center to identify and notify any persons that these individuals may have had contact with recently. If you have any symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, headache, myalgias (body aches), chills, repeating shaking with chills, and new loss of taste or smell please contact the Parker Indian Health Center or your primary physician.

Everyone is also reminded to continue to limit contact with anyone who is not a member of your immediate household, in order to protect themselves and their households.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Wear a face mask when you must leave your home to conduct essential tasks.

• Avoid close contact with anyone outside of your immediate household.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Cover your cough or sneezes with a tissue and immediately discard the tissue in the trash.

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Originally Appeared Here

Rosa Woods/Stuff

Unvaccinated teachers are still being discriminated against more than two months after vaccine mandates were lifted for the education sector, a group representing them says.

It’s been almost three months since vaccine mandates were lifted in the education sector, and some schools and kindergartens are still not hiring unvaccinated teachers despite staffing shortages, a support group says.

Teachers who declined to get a Covid-19 vaccination were barred from entering school grounds after November 15, but the mandates were lifted by the Government on April 5.

Despite this, some schools and kindergartens still aren’t hiring unvaccinated teachers, according to Rachael Mortimer, chairperson of New Zealand Teachers Speaking out with Science, a group that took court action to try and get the mandates overturned.

In advertisements for staff in the Education Gazette, at least one school and a kindergarten say they will only hire vaccinated teachers.

READ MORE:
* Teachers ‘still in limbo’ despite vaccine mandates being lifted
* Ministry of Education: Schools can still block unvaccinated teachers
* Covid-19: Principals glad to see ‘back end’ of school vaccine mandates

Mortimer said she had been contacted by unvaccinated teachers who were applying for jobs, but not getting interviews, despite those schools sending students home for short periods due to lack of teachers.

The teachers still being turned down by schools when mandates were no longer in place was dispiriting and heartbreaking, she said.

Calliope Veludos, a teacher of 24 years who didn’t get vaccinated due to her family’s history of heart issues, sent her CV to schools in Wellington after the mandates were lifted, but had received no replies.

She refused to get angry about her predicament, but said it was stressful.

She decided to move into independent consulting work and was starting up a website to connect educators with families.

Tanya Miller, a teacher of 30 years who declined to get vaccinated, said several schools told her in late May, seven weeks after the mandates were lifted, they were still not hiring unvaccinated teachers.

She had since got a teaching job but remained “raw and vulnerable” from the experience.

Education Ministry operations and integration leader Sean Teddy said this month that school boards were the legal entity responsible for health and safety in schools.

Following the removal of the vaccine mandate for workers in the education sector, school boards were advised to review their approach to managing the risk of Covid-19 infection and transmission in schools and kura.

“As part of this, boards will need to determine whether any roles in their school are still required to be done by a worker or staff member vaccinated against Covid-19.”

Schools and kura needed to consider what further health and safety measures were needed to best protect their students and staff.

The more layers of protection in place, such as good hygiene practices, handwashing, ventilation, cleaning and disinfecting, the harder it was for the virus to get through.

“Supporting access to Covid-19 vaccinations for all staff and eligible students is one such measure,” Teddy said.

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You can help your children develop healthy habits early in life that will bring lifelong benefits. Because your children look up to you, you should set them a good example.

At the same time, helping your children live their best lives will undoubtedly make you think twice about some of your own habits, which could perhaps do with some redress and cure.

Attitude

A positive attitude will contribute to your well-being throughout life and help your children become more resilient. Help your children develop positive attitudes by encouraging them to do what they can instead of always telling them what they can’t.

Make a point of celebrating their successes, but don’t make them feel they are only good enough if they are top of the class or play for the first team. Most people can be perfectly contented and well-adjusted with average effort and results.

Screen time

Modern children are often exposed to digital media from computers, play stations, smartphones, tablets and television throughout the day. The problem is that too much digital media results in a sedentary lifestyle and critical social interactions are not learnt. Also, children who spend the majority of their time in front of a screen don’t get into the habit of regular exercise and many experience difficulty sleeping.

You can teach them to use screen time in a healthy way that can improve their lives. Limit the time they spend on digital media and instead substitute it with other activities.

• Reading with your children every day from babyhood helps connections form in their young brains. These build language, literacy and social-emotional skills essential in childhood development.
• Introduce your children to a range of physical activities – from swimming to hiking and ball sports like tennis and lawn cricket – and enjoy them together as a family. Not all children like the same activities, but you are sure to find some most will enjoy.
• If you have trouble motivating them, try simple toys like skipping ropes or inflatable beach balls, and choose different locations so that they don’t get bored with the backyard. Public parks and playgrounds, sports fields and swimming pools or the beach are good options.

Food

Filling their plates with brightly coloured foods translates into a high nutritional value with many health benefits – especially when the foods are in season. Start early with vegetables and fruits, brimming with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Avoid sugar-laden fruit and vegetable juices and soft drinks.

Eating a balanced breakfast with protein, carbohydrates, and fats is a good way for your children and you to start the day. Instead of opening a box of sugar-coated breakfast cereal, try the following:

• Muesli or granola with double-cream yoghurt and sliced banana.
• Hard-boiled eggs, toast and an apple.
• Peanut butter, honey and cheese on whole-grain bread or toast.

Teach your child about nutrition by encouraging them to read the food labels on their favourite packaged snacks. Focus on the amount of sugar, saturated fat, energy (kilojoules) and serving size. Food labels have the ingredients listed in descending order by amount. So, for instance, if sugar is the first ingredient listed, the snack contains more sugar than any other ingredient.

Money

Teach your children the importance of managing their money, starting with the idea of earning their own money rather than just giving to them. For example, instead of handing out money for doing nothing, you should pay them for the chores done around the house like cleaning their rooms, washing dishes, setting the table or mowing the lawn.

Once they are familiar with earning money, you can teach them how to save, share and spend wisely.

Consistency

The key to helping children adopt healthy habits is consistency in what you say and do, and it’s important for them to see that you follow your own advice. Children tend to copy what you do, so if it’s evident to them that you care about your health, they’re likely to follow your example.

It’s up to you to teach your children the habits they need to live happy, healthy lives. Some of these can last a lifetime.

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Atlantic hurricane season kicked off in earnest on June 1.

Experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predict an above-average hurricane season in 2022, meaning 14 to 22 named storms, including three to six major hurricanes.

With the sweltering temperatures we have experienced thus far this season — and it’s still June — we need to take the advice of experts and prepare now.

While the Natchez area is not on the coast, we know the dangers of spinoff storms and tornadoes.

Make an emergency plan. Do you plan to evacuate during coming storms? Know now what route you will take and make plans for a place to stay.

Have a way to stay informed during an emergency. Keep your cell phone charged and have a backup power supply for your cell phone.

Make sure your insurance policies are up to date, and make sure to put important papers in a place where they will be safe from the elements.

Now is the time to buy supplies you will need, like water, non-perishable food, medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies, and batteries. Don’t wait until a storm is upon you. You should have enough of these necessities to last you and your family several days.

Build a list of what you need and gather those items, like clothing and a first aid kit, flashlights, fire extinguisher, sleeping bags and blankets and pillows.

Know where your nearest shelter is if you have to evacuate your home.

Taking the time now to get yourself and your family ready for those inevitable storms that will challenge all of us will likely save you from much suffering and worry.

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