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Four new COVID-19 cases were reported Wednesday in St. Mary Parish and one in St. Martin, according to the Louisiana Office of Public Health midday update. No new deaths were reported.

The four St. Mary cases raised the total number of positive tests to 308 after about 3,000 total tests. The number of deaths remains at 29.

The one new case in St. Martin raises the total there to 292 after more than 3,000 tests. The death toll remains at 22.

In Assumption, the case count remains at 245 after about 2,000 tests. Twelve people have died there.

Statewide:

--443 news cases raised the total to 38,497 after more than 347,000 tests.

--21 newly reported deaths raise the total to 2,617.

--33 fewer people were in hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, dropping the total to 798.

--3 fewer people were on ventilators for a total of 100.

With the loosening of restrictions in many aspects of daily life, the initial phase of returning to “normalcy” was executed by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
Louisiana has entered Phase One of the Opening America Again guidelines promoted by the Trump administration.
Louisiana officials will decide next month whether the state can move on to Phase Two guidelines.
St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff said “we can’t get there soon enough” in returning to normal.
“I think the overall number of cases, in my personal opinion, are being manipulated,” he said. “I don’t think anyone knows what the true numbers are, to be honest, and I feel as though the cases have definitely dropped off and with summer coming with the heat, I think the cases will continue to drop off.”
Hanagriff said people are already of the mindset to practice safe measures such as social distancing, which he said will make for safer conditions.
“I think people will still be wary,” he said. “Some will be more cautious of course, but I think at least through the summer, people will second-guess themselves when they do certain things. Will it be to the extent that we probably should be? No. The longer this goes, the more complacent people will be. This thing’s going to have a 24-hour news cycle and then it’ll be over, unless there’s a reoccurrence, but I don’t think it’s going to be that. I think this things are going to settle down.”
Economic conditions over the past few months will surely have financial repercussions, including the local governments. “The financial hit, I think to a certain extent we can withstand what we have,” Hanagriff said. “The biggest problem is because (parish funds) are already budgeted. It’s what’s going to happen next, as far as sales taxes. But as people go back and companies try to survive…that’s what I’m worried about. I’m worried about overall revenue and the sake of the other business that, once they get through the Payroll Protection Plan and all the other monies that were given out to help, once that’s over with, then we’re going to be hit with reality. We’re preparing for having some issues with the (parish) government.”
Another major concern is the oil and gas industry, vital to this area’s economy.
“Everyone in the oil field sector from Texas and all around, not just Louisiana…it’s not going to be good by any means,” Hanagriff said. “It’s going to be a huge impact on this region. It’s coming.”
Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard said for his part, he is looking toward state and the Center for Disease Control standards as his rule and guide.
“For instance,” he said, “here at City Hall, we started a partial re-opening, where we are asking visitors who are coming into the building to take care of a water bill, or a tax bill or an inspection, to wear a mask inside of City Hall.
“We are still asking people to remain vigilant, still practice social distancing, still stay six feet apart, put a mask on if you can, and to still be safe.
“We are going to get through this, but by no means are we letting our guard down.”
Foulcard added that it is his understanding that almost every business in Franklin is up and running again, save bars and salons that handle eyelashes, albeit by Governor John Bel Edwards’ official Phase 1 protocols.
He added that anyone who feels sick or is displaying standard COVID-19 symptoms should stay home and not go into public.
“We are just asking people to use common sense,” Foulcard said, “as we continue through these soft re-openings.”
“We are doing it the way the state has asked us to do it.”
Foulcard further stated he believes new hygiene standards will continue even after we have phased back to full socioeconomic resumption, and if a silver lining were to be considered in these strange times, it might look something like new hygiene standards resulting in lower influenza statistics in the future.
And finally, Foulcard offered a bit of advice for the citizenry.
“Please put a mask on. Wear a protective covering to protect the person next to you. If you are going to the doctor’s office, put your mask on. If you are going to Walmart, put your mask on. If you are going to Super 1, put your mask on. If you are going to Franklin Supermarket, put your mask on. It’s common sense. We are asking people to mask-up.”
St. Mary Parish Homeland Security Director David Naquin is concerned about hurricane season in conjunction with the virus.
“We evacuate our people to Rapides Parish coliseum,” Naquin said. “Our general number for evacuation is 800…with about 50 out of lower St. Martin because we try to help them.”
Naquin said the parish has a contract with Rapides Parish in the event of an evacuation. Local school buses are used to transport evacuees.
“But we have a new system of registration,” Naquin said. “So we clock someone in, and we clock him when he comes home, because what we’ve found in the past is a lot of them go to Rapides then call (a family member) to come get them and we can’t find them. We still need to account for them.”
The worry is that Rapides may not take St. Mary’s evacuees in the event of a hurricane because of the COVID crisis. “Their question is, are we going to test them and screen them. If we do have a known COVID where does he go—I think the state has a plan for that.”
A bus that could transport 40 people would, with social distancing, be reduced to 10-15 people.
“Then the buses have to be cleaned up and sanitized, too,” he said.
The American Red Cross rule of thumb requires 100 square feet per person. “So we send 800, it’ll now hold 127,” Naquin said. “That’s what the state’s grappling with because every parish has the same problem.”
Naquin said that evacuee centers outside of the state could be necessary.
“So we put a guy on the bus and send him to Kentucky, no air-conditioner, in July or August,” he said. “I realize there are people who don’t have transportation…but that’s cruel and unusual punishment to force them to do that, but I don’t know what other alternative we have. One under consideration is you can’t have a shelter below I-10 because of flooding. We may make some exceptions to that.”
There are efforts underway to lower the space regulation to 45 feet.
Naquin is also concerned about the Atchafalaya River, which is at a high water level, should a hurricane occur and push more water inland.
“I see a lot of people wearing masks, not everybody, but it helps,” he said. “I’m not saying it’s the cure-all, but it does help. The more you can do like that, the better off we all are. It’s like trying to fight the flu, you can’t fight the flu off. That test is only good for that one second when they put that swab up your nose, and an hour later you could contract it.”
He concluded, “I think the people here are taking it seriously. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a bunch of people out there still having crawfish boils.
“People just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing. Be safe, wash your hands.”
Here, from the White House website, are what the next two COVID phases look like.
Phase Two: For states and regions with no evidence of a rebound and that satisfy the gating criteria a second time.
Individuals: All vulnerable individuals should continue to shelter in place. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home. Precautions should be taken to isolate from vulnerable residents.
All individuals, when in public (e.g., parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas), should maximize physical distance from others. Social settings of more than 50 people, where appropriate distancing may not be practical, should be avoided unless precautionary measures are observed, non-essential travel can resume.
Employers: Continue to encourage telework, whenever possible and feasible with business operations.
Close common areas where personnel are likely to congregate and interact, or enforce moderate social distancing protocols.
Strongly consider special accommodations for personnel who are members of a vulnerable population.
Specific Employers: schools and organized youth activities (e.g., daycare, camp) can reopen.
Visits to senior care facilities and hospitals should be prohibited. Those who do interact with residents and patients must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene.
Large venues (e.g., sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under moderate physical distancing protocols.
Elective surgeries can resume, as clinically appropriate, on an outpatient and in-patient basis at facilities that adhere to CMS guidelines.
Gyms can remain open if they adhere to strict physical distancing and sanitation protocols.
Bars may operate with diminished standing-room occupancy, where applicable and appropriate.
Phase Three: For States and Regions with no evidence of a rebound and that satisfy the gating criteria a third time.
Individuals: Vulnerable individuals can resume public interactions, but should practice physical distancing, minimizing exposure to social settings where distancing may not be practical, unless precautionary measures are observed.
Low-risk populations should consider minimizing time spent in crowded environments.
Employers: Employers may resume unrestricted staffing of worksites.
Specific Employers: Visits to senior care facilities and hospitals can resume. Those who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene.
Large venues (e.g., sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under limited physical distancing protocols.
Gyms can remain open if they adhere to standard sanitation protocols.
Bars may operate with increased standing room occupancy, where applicable.

If you haven’t received your Economic Impact Payment — your coronavirus stimulus check — you’d better take an extra look at your junk mail.
The U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service began last week sending the payments out as prepaid debit cards. Earlier payments had been deposited directly into bank accounts or sent as paper checks.
“EIP Card recipients can make purchases, get cash from in-network ATMs, and transfer funds to their personal bank account without incurring any fees,” the Treasury Department said. “They can also check their card balance online, by mobile app, or by phone without incurring fees.
“The EIP Card can be used online, at ATMs, or at any retail location where Visa is accepted. This free, prepaid card also provides consumer protections available to traditional bank account owners, including protections against fraud, loss, and other errors.”
At least one local family received an EIP card in an envelope bearing an out-of-state return address and no indication of what was inside. While the cards are described as fee-free, online information related to this card included a fee schedule.
So make sure you check the details online when you create your personal identification number for the card.
Most transactions, including the first ATM withdrawal, are free. Subsequent ATM withdrawals cost $2 each.
There are also fees for balance inquiries, replacing lost cards and other transactions.
The cards will be usable at businesses that accept VISA.
When you receive your card:
—Activate your EIP Card account, set your four-digit PIN and get your balance by calling 1-800-240-8100.
—Sign the back of your EIP Card.
—Keep your EIP Card number in a safe place.
Treasury has already delivered more than 140 million Economic Impact Payments worth $239 billion to Americans by direct deposit to accounts at financial institutions, Direct Express card accounts, and by check. The Treasury-sponsored EIP Card is another method to provide money efficiently and securely to eligible recipients and their families. EIP Cards are being distributed to qualified individuals without bank information on file with the IRS, and whose tax return was processed by either the Andover or Austin IRS Service Center.
Keep the card in case there is another stimulus payment. It will go to the card.

Staff Report
A Berwick teenager was arrested Monday on warrants for burglary and attempted burglary and on gun possession charges, Police Chief David Leonard said.
—Juvenile, 17, of River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 6:50 p.m. Monday on Berwick Police Department warrants for five counts of attempted simple burglary, four counts of simple burglary and one count of criminal trespassing, and on charges of possession of a handgun by a juvenile and possession of a stolen firearm.
In the early morning hours of Saturday, several unlocked vehicles were burglarized on Second and Ceylon streets. Through investigation, officers were able to identify the suspect as a 17-year-old from Berwick. At that time, arrest warrants were prepared for the juvenile.
On Monday, officers went to a residence on Texas Street, where they located the juvenile and took him into custody on the warrants.
During the arrest, officers located a handgun that was concealed under juvenile’s leg while he was seated on a sofa. Officers learned that the gun was reported stolen in Morgan City. The juvenile was transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked on the aforementioned charges.
The Berwick Police Department would like to thank the homeowners for allowing investigators to view their home video surveillance systems. As a reminder, locking the doors to your homes and vehicles is the single most effective thing you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a crime.
It is also recommended that you remove any items of value from your vehicle and do not leave any items of value in plain sight. Please do your part to reduce crime in our town by partnering with the Berwick Police Department and making it a nightly routine to lock your doors. If you see any suspicious activity occurring, call the Berwick Police Department at 985-384-7710.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported these arrests:
—Brittany Morgan, 29, Saint Claire Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:15 p.m. Friday on warrants for three counts of failure to appear.
Morgan was located at the Morgan City Police Department and placed under arrest on active warrants held by the City Court of Morgan City. She was booked and incarcerated.
—-Christopher James Bourque, 41, Cupcake Circle, Erath, was arrested at 1:56 a.m. Saturday on charges of headlights required and possession of methamphetamine.
An officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Bourque. During the traffic stop, he was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Christopher Lynn Haynes, 37, Hickory Street, Patterson, was arrested at 6:33 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Officers came into contact with Haynes at a local address. He was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:
—Stanley James Butler Jr., 41, Mitchell Street, Franklin, was at 12:31 a.m. Saturday on a charge of reckless operation-no accident. Butler was released on a summons to appear Aug. 21.
—Briani Lashea Doucet, 23, Durio Street, Sunset, was arrested at 7:11 p.m. Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana and resisting arrest or officer. Doucet was later released on a summons to appear Aug. 21.
—Shanna Whitfield, 25, Avenue E, Victoria, Texas, was arrested at 1:03 p.m. Sunday on a charge of cruelty to animals. Whitfield was released on a summons to appear Aug. 21.
—Melissa Verrett, Frangenberg, 53, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:47 a.m. Sunday on charges of improper lane usage and possession of marijuana. Frangenberg was released on a summons to appear Aug. 21.
—Moises Henriquez Duarte, 43, West Syls Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:56 p.m. Sunday on charges of improper lane usage, first-offense driving while intoxicated and open container. Bail was set at $2,500.
—Leslie Ann Bonvillian, 40, Lake Palourde Road, Amelia, was arrested by the K9 Section at 1:48 p.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Bonvillian was released on a summons to appear Aug. 21.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
— Kelvin James Hamilton, 57, La. 1, Labadieville, was arrested Sunday on charges of disturbing the peace, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault with a firearm, and illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities.
Deputies responded to a call of someone firing a gun at a residence near Violet Street. Deputies made contact with the complainant, who directed the officers to where the suspect was located. The suspect was located and did have a shotgun and an open-bladed knife. Hamilton was disarmed, arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center.
Hamilton remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
—Lamar Rashad McDaniel, 31, 10th Street, Port Arthur, Texas, was arrested Sunday on charges of speeding, illegal window tint and possession of MDMA (ecstasy).
Deputies on patrol assignment observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a traffic stop.
The deputy made contact with the driver identified McDaniel and commenced an interrogation of the suspect. The deputy decided to conduct a field sobriety examination of McDaniel and at some point, requested consent to search the vehicle which was granted.
During the search, deputies seized a quantity of MDMA (ecstasy).
Daniel was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center. Lamar Rashad McDaniel was incarcerated pending a bond hearing
—Grant Steven Coleman, 43, Jerome Court, Napoleonville, was arrested Sunday on charges of careless operation, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute and driving under suspension.
Uniformed patrol officers observed a northbound motorcycle on La. 308 commit a traffic violation. Deputies pursued the motorcycle and initiated a traffic stop.
Contact was made with the driver, identified as Coleman, who appeared somewhat disoriented and was acting in a reserved manner.
Deputies requested permission to search the containment areas of the motorcycle and Coleman complied. During that process, deputies seized quantities of marijuana, cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy). A considerable amount of U.S. currency was seized from Coleman.
Coleman was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center. Coleman remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.