>> Devin: GLOBAL COMPUTER SHIP
SHORTAGE AFFECTING FORD’S
ABILITY TO PRODUCE ITS MOST
IMPORTANT PRODUCT. >> Dr. McGeorge: PFIZER SAID THE
>> Dr. McGeorge: PFIZER SAID THE
VACCINE IS SAFE IN CHILDREN.
>> Shawn: VACCINATION IS THE
STRATEGY THE STATE IS GOING
WITH, NOT RESTRICTIONS.
WE’LL EXPLAIN, COMING UP.
>> Devin: WE’LL START HERE AT
6:00 WITH THE NUMBERS.
MICHIGAN REPORTING THE HIGHEST
NEW CASE COUNT OF CORONAVIRUS
SINCE EARLY DECEMBER.
>> Karen: IN THE PAST 24 HOURS,
MICHIGAN ADDED 6311 NEW CASES
AND 10 DEATHS.
BEAUMONT MAKING CHANGES,
EXPANDING ITS COVID UNITS AT ALL
HOSPITALS AND THE HOSPITALS WILL
NOW ALLOW PEOPLE WHO ARE FULLY
VACCINATED TO VISIT PATIENTS WHO
DO NOT HAVE COVID.
>> Devin: MORE HOPE ON THE
VACCINE FRONT.
DETROIT WILL OFFER VACCINES
INSIDE THE TCF CENTER IN
ADDITION TO THE DRIVE-UP SITE IN
THE GARAGE AND WILL ALLOW THE
CITY TO EXPAND FROM 5,000 DAILY
DOSES TO 8,000.
>> Karen: WITH CASES RISING SO
STEADILY, MANY ARE WONDERING WHY
THERE ARE NOT MORE RESTRICTIONS
ON BUSINESSES LIKE IN THE PAST.
>> Devin: THE ANSWER, MORE
PEOPLE GETTING ACCESS TO THE
VACCINES.
SHAWN LEY HAS MORE ON THE SHIFT
IN FOCUS FROM SHUTDOWNS TO
SHOTS.
SHAWN?
>> Shawn: THAT’S A VERY GOOD WAY
OF PUTTING IT.
WE’RE HERE AT A NEW VACCINATION
CLINIC, STERLING HEIGHTS,
LAKESIDE MALL, THE OLD SEARS
PARKING LOT.
IT WAS BUSY TODAY.
THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR
TELLING ME GETTING SHOTS IS THE
KEY RIGHT NOW, NOT SHUTDOWNS.
>> WE THINK IT’S GOING TO BE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE MASS
VACCINATIONS TO NOT JUST THE
RESIDENTS OF STERLING HEIGHTS
BUT ALL OF MACOMB COUNTY.
>> Shawn: STERLING HEIGHTS
OPENING A NEW DRIVE-THRU
VACCINATION SITE AT THE FORMER
SEARS PARKING LOT.
IT’S SHOTS NOT SHUTDOWNS TO
BRING DOWN THE SKYROCKETING
RATES.
FEWER PEOPLE BATTLING THE VIRUS
ARE NOT IN INTENSIVE CARE.
THEY’RE KEEPING AN EYE ON
HOSPITALIZATIONS.
>> UNTIL WE GET TO A POINT WHERE
WE BELIEVE THAT WE’RE AT A PLACE
THAT HOSPITALS CANNOT HANDLE THE
CAPACITY COMING IN, WE’LL
CONTINUE TO URGE THE MITIGATION
MEASURES.
>> Shawn: ONE HOT SPOT, MACOMB
COUNTY.
THE STATE SAYS IT’S A RACE TO
GET PEOPLE VACCINATED VERSUS THE
RAPID SPREAD WITH NO
RESTRICTIONS BEING PUT BACK IN
PLACE.
HOW HIGH DO THEY THINK CASES
NEED TO GO BEFORE ACTION IS
TAKEN?
THE ANSWER IS GETTING SHOTS INTO
ARMS.
>> NOW OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE AND WE’VE
GOT TO WORK ON GETTING THEM INTO
THE CLINIC SITES AND GETTING
THEM VACCINATED.
THAT’S HOW WE’LL SLOW THIS DOWN.
>> Shawn: A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE
WERE SEARCHING FOR VACCINES, AND
NOW THEY’RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE
TO COME AND GET THE VACCINE.
GO TO MACOMBGOV.ORG.
AND WE’RE LIVE TONIGHT, SHAWN
LEY, LOCAL 4.
BACK TO YOU.
>> Devin: DID DIRECTOR HERTEL
SAY ANYTHING ABOUT USING VACCINE
PASSPORTS?
>> Shawn: WE DID ASK HER ABOUT
THAT, BECAUSE IT’S CALLING
RIPPLE EFFECTS AND CONTROVERSY
AND SAID THERE’S BEEN NO TALK
ABOUT THAT WHATSOEVER.
ALL THE FOCUS HAD BEEN GETTING
SHOTS INTO ARMS, PERIOD.
>> Karen: TODAY, PFIZER
ANNOUNCED ITS VACCINE IS
SUCCESSFUL AT PREVENTING
COVID-19 IN CHILDREN AGES 12-15.
THIS IS THE FIRST STUDY IN THAT
AGE GROUP AND COULD BE A MAJOR
BOOST TOWARD PROTECTING OLDER
KIDS AND TEENS.
A LOOK AT WHAT WE KNOW AND
WHAT’S NEXT.
DOC?
>> Dr. McGeorge: YEAH, KAREN.
SO THE INFORMATION IS COMING
FROM A PRESS RELEASE FROM
PFIZER.
SO THE DATA HAS YET TO BE
PUBLISHED AND PEER REVIEWED.
BUT IF IT CHECKS OUT, IT’S
ENCOURAGING AND A STEP FORWARD
IN THE EFFORT TO PROTECT
CHILDREN FROM COVID-19.
ADOLESCENTS MAY BE ONE STEP
CLOSER TO GETTING VACCINATED.
DATA FROM A LATE-STAGE TRIAL
SHOWS IT’S HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN
THAT AGE GROUP.
THE PHASE 3 TRIAL WAS RELATIVELY
SMALL WITH 2260 CHILDREN AGES
12-15 YEARS OLD.
18 CASES WERE REPORTED AMONG
THOSE WITH THE PLACEBO BUT NONE
IN THE VACCINATED GROUP,
EFFICACY OF 100%, AND NO
SIGNIFICANT SIDE EFFECTS
REPORTED.
PERHAPS MOST ENCOURAGING, THE
ANTIBODY LEVELS WERE ACTUALLY
HIGHER THAN THOSE SEEN IN THE
16-25-YEAR-OLD GROUP IN THE
ORIGINAL TRIAL.
>> IT WAS SUPER HIGH IN THE
VACCINATED GROUP, SO I THINK
IT’S A LIKELY A GREEN LIGHT TO
MOVE FORWARD TO MOVE DOWN IN
TERMS OF VACCINATING ADOLESCENTS
12-15.
>> Dr. McGeorge: WHILE MOST
CHILDREN HAVE SUFFERED MILD
SYMPTOMS, THEY’RE STILL
SPREADING THE VIRUS.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS SAY
PROTECTING KIDS WILL ULTIMATELY
BE NECESSARY TO STOP THE
PANDEMIC.
>> BY FALL, WE’LL BE VACCINATING
TEENAGERS 12 AND UP.
AND FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH
SCHOOL, IT’S GOOD NEWS.
>> Dr. McGeorge: SO WHAT’S NEXT?
PFIZER PLANS TO SUBMIT THE DATA
TO THE FDA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
TO HAVE IT EXPANDED TO INCLUDE
THAT AGE GROUP.
IT’S CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED FOR
THOSE 16 AND UP.
THE PARTICIPANTS WILL CONTINUE
TO BE MONITORED FOR THE NEXT TWO
YEARS.
>> Karen: WILL IT HAVE ANY
IMPACT ON THE TRIALS ON YOUNGER
CHILDREN?
>> Dr. McGeorge: IT’S A GOOD
THAT I THINK THE 12-15-YEAR-OLDS
DO SO WELL, BUT WE EXPECT THE
TRIALS IN YOUNGER KIDS TO TAKE
MUCH LONGER.
AND IT’S STILL EARLY 2022 BEFORE
THE RESULTS.
>> Devin: A FEW HOURS AWAY FROM
THE NEW BASEBALL SEASON STARTING
ON SCHEDULE OVER AT COMERICA,
AND WE’LL ALL BE THANKFUL. >> Karen: THE WEATHER IS LOOKIN’
>> Karen: THE WEATHER IS LOOKIN’
A LITTLE BIT OFF-SWING-AND-MISS,
RIGHT, BEN?
[LAUGHTER]
>> Ben: ALL YOU CAN DO IS LAUGH
BECAUSE IT’S COMICAL.
WE PUT THE WEIRDEST WEATHER ON
OPENING DAY.
1:10 FIRST PITCH, TEMPERATURES
IN THE 30s.
AND THE WINDS WILL BE THE STORY,
FEELING LIKE THE LOW AND
MID-20s, AND THERE WILL BE
SNOWFLAKES, EVEN THOUGH THE
GRASS OVER THERE LOOKS
FANTASTIC.
MAY SEE SOME SNOWFLAKES BY THE
END OF THE GAME.
48 IS CURRENTLY IN DETROIT.
AND TEMPERATURES CLOSE TO
AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
BUT THERE’S SNOW ON THE RADAR IN
THE CENTRAL PORTION OF MICHIGAN
AND IT IS HEADED THIS WAY.
WE’LL LIKELY SEE SOME OF THE
FLAKES THIS EVENING AND SOME
COULD BE AROUND TOMORROW AS
WELL.
DOWN INTO THE MID-30s BY
MIDNIGHT.
WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE
TEMPERATURES AND THE WIND CHILLS
FOR TOMORROW MORNING AND GET A
SNEAK PEEK ON THE LOCAL4CASTERS
APP AND MORE INFORMATION ON THE
HOUR-BY-HOUR FORECAST FOR
OPENING DAY, FREE IN YOUR APP
STORE BY SEARCHING WDIV.
>> Devin: FORD IS TEMPORARILY
CLOSING THE DEARBORN TRUCK PLANT
BECAUSE OF THE SEMI CONDUCTOR
SHORTAGE.
THE PLANT IS GONNA CLOSE FOR TWO
WEEKS STARTING APRIL 5th AND
CANCELING OVERTIME SHIFTS FOR
FOUR WEEKS.
THE PLANT BUILDS THE F-150 AND
THE SECOND MICHIGAN AUTO PLANT
TEMPORARY SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF
THAT SHORTAGE.
>> Karen: I-75 MODERNIZATION
PROJECT HAS MADE SLOWDOWNS THE
NORM.
NOW ANOTHER BIG PROJECT IS UNDER
WAY AS TRAFFIC SLOWLY STARTS TO
INCREASE.
HERE’S KIM DeGIULIO TO BREAK IT
DOWN FOR US.
>> Kim: PEOPLE HEADING BACK TO
WORK AFTER A YEAR WITHOUT A
COMMUTE, I-75 COMMUTERS BEWARE!
IT WILL BE A CUFF COUPLE OF
MONTHS AS ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT
HAS JUST STARTED.
WHILE DRIVERS ARE ALREADY
DEALING WITH THE I-75
MODERNIZATION PROJECT, MDOT HAS
ORDERED ANOTHER PROJECT TO THE
MIX.
>> IT’S THE SECTION BETWEEN 8
MILE AND I-696, SO LET’S PUT
THIS PROJECT IN THIS YEAR SO WE
CAN GET THE BRIDGE WORK DONE AT
THE SAME TIME.
>> Kim: THIS TAKES PLACE BETWEEN
THE DAVISON AND 7 MILE WHICH
INCLUDES HEAVY DUTY REPAIRS ON
12 BRIDGES.
>> WE’RE TO THE POINT
CONDITION-WISE THAT THE BRIDGES
NEED ATTENTION AND IF THESE ARE
REMEDIAL REPAIRS THAT WILL
EXTEND THE BRIDGE LIFE 20-25
YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
RESULTS WHEN IT’S COMPLETED AND
I’LL GO FROM THERE.
>> Kim: THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS,
GET IT DONE AT ONCE INSTEAD OF
DRAGGING IT OUT.
>> BY NEXT YEAR, THE BRIDGES IN
DETROIT WILL BE REHABILITATED
AND THE MODERNIZATION PROJECT
SOUTH OF I-696 COMPLETED.
>> Kim: FROM THE DAVISON TO 13
MILE, IT WILL BE SLOW, WITH ONLY
TWO LANES OPEN IN EACH DIRECTION.
>> IT’S SO BACKED UP BECAUSE
PEOPLE CAN’T TAKE STRAIGHT SHOT
I-75 ANYMORE.
>> Kim: AND WE MAY SEE TRAFFIC
VOLUMES INCREASE AS MANY HEAD
BACK TO WORK SOON.
>> MAYBE YOU PUT THE PHONE DOWN
AND LIMIT THE CONVERSATION
YOU’RE HAVING WITH OTHER PEOPLE
AND FOCUS ON THE DRIVING BECAUSE
WE HAVE MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE
WORKING TO KEEP YOUR ROUTE SAFE.
>> Kim: BOTH I-75 PROJECTS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED THIS
NOVEMBER.
ALONG I-75, I’M KIM DeGIULIO,
LOCAL 4.
>> Devin: SEEMS LIKE A LONG WAY
AWAY.
>>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IN
PITTSBURGH REVEALING HIS PLAN TO
REBUILD THE NATION’S
INFRASTRUCTURE.
$2 TRILLION PROPOSAL INCLUDES
$650 BILLION TO REBUILD ROADS,
BRIDGES, AND PORTS, AND THE
ELECTRIC GRID AND BROADBAND
INTERNET.
ANOTHER $400 BILLION TO CARE FOR
SENIORS AND THOSE WITH
DISABILITIES.
AND TO PAY FOR IT ALL, HE WANTS TO INCREASE THE CORPORATE TAX
TO INCREASE THE CORPORATE TAX
RATE FROM 21 TO 28%.
REPUBLICANS PLAN TO OPPOSE IT.
MORE AT 6:30 ON "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT.
♪
>> Jamie: YOU’VE HEARD THE TERM
TRANSFER PORTAL.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR COLLEGE
BASKETBALL AND YOUR FAVORITE
LOCAL TEAM?
DETAILS NEXT ON LOCAL 4.
>> Hank: I’M HANK WINCHESTER,
"HELP ME HANK."
WE’RE HELPING YOU SAVE BIG TIME.
NEW TONIGHT AT 6:00, WE’LL SHOW
YOU FOUR ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN
DRASTICALLY REDUCED. HOW YOU CAN SAVE BIG, COMING UP.