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A statewide burn ban is now in effect until further notice due to the public health emergency associ-ated with COVID-19.

The burn ban went into effect Wednesday.

“This burn ban is necessary to supplement the governor’s ‘Stay At Home’ order aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19 due to the anticipation that there may be an increase in open burning occur-ring across the state as families look for ways to pass the time at home,” said State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning in a news erlease.

Barbecue pits, fire pits and small campfires are permitted when used for brief, recreational purposes.

While there has been discussion nationally about potentially reopening the country for business around Easter Sunday as the United States currently battles COVID-19, local physician Dr. Gary Wiltz said he doesn’t think that may be possible.
Wiltz, chief executive officer of Teche Action Clinic, said it’s a waiting game to see if those that have been exposed to COVID-19 that are now idle will start to show symptoms.
“You have to give that at least 14 days, if not longer, especially in Louisiana,” Wiltz said Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t even want to think about it sometimes, but you got a million people in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but then all over Louisiana, the people that celebrated Mardi Gras, Houma, Lafayette, all these places that had big crowds, we have no idea how to trace those contacts, so that has to play out. Those people that were there that may have been exposed or went to other places so it’s going to take some patience and see.”
However, Wiltz said that if enough testing is done and enough negative results come back to give confidence that people can go back to work, he said he thinks at some juncture those citizens should be “phased back in.”
While Teche Action Clinic, which has locations from St. Mary Parish on east across south Louisiana, is testing for COVID-19, Wiltz said they have only conducted about five tests on patients in St. Mary Parish, not counting their health care professionals. He said they had a positive case each in Houma, Reserve and Thibodaux.
Wiltz said his agency tests patients for the flu first. If they exhibit symptoms of the flu, and if that test is negative, then they opt for the COVID-19 test “if they meet the criteria.
“That’s the other thing: We’re still seeing cases of the flu,” he said.
Beginning Thursday, Wiltz said his clinics will implement telemedicine on a large scale for the first time. He said they have 40 patients lined up to use the service, that can be downloaded via an app.
“We’ll see how that goes where we will be able to do a face-to-face with the patients at their home, and we’ll be available on our laptops and computers in the office,” he said.
Using telemedicine, Wiltz said his agency can service patients who are stable, while patients who may need more intense care will come to their office.
“We’re dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, but there’s still other patients out there that have chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, COPD, respiratory illnesses that need to be seen, so we still are seeing them and taking all the precautions,” Wiltz said.
With mandates closing schools and Gov. John Bel Edwards’ stay-at-home order for nonessential employees, Wiltz said his agency has seen a decrease in patients.
“We had a drop-off of patients that did not come in because I think they were maybe confused and didn’t know they could still come in,” he said.
Using the telemedicine visits, Wiltz said he is hopeful they can see any patients that may have stayed home instead of coming in.
As for his advice to the public, Wiltz said in addition to recommendations already issued like social distancing, people should stay patient and make sure they check where their information is coming from, noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the best source.
“Take it seriously,” he said of the virus.

BATON ROUGE — The COVID-19 public health emergency can be a tough time for those with limited food dollars, according to the LSU AgCenter news release. Some are now in situation where their income has been drastically reduced.
Sandra May, LSU AgCenter registered dietitian, said many people may be concerned about making multiple trips to the grocery store and finding empty shelves.
She stressed that it is important to keep yourself and your family as healthy as possible.
“Choosing foods that are nutritious and healthful is one way to make sure that you and your family stay healthy by keeping your immune system strong,” she said.
Here are some tips on how to stretch your food dollars and stay healthy during this public health emergency:
1. Take inventory of what you have already.
Before going to the grocery store, check your cupboard, refrigerator and freezer for items you have on hand.
2. Plan all meals and snacks for the next 14 days.
Sit down with your family and make a menu for each meal and a list of snacks that everyone can enjoy. Keep in mind the foods you already have at home. Include leftovers in your menu planning.
Check out the sales online for the grocery store you frequent the most. Use sale items to help you plan your meals and snacks.
Look for recipes that allow you to cook once and eat twice. Check out these videos for some ideas:
Cook Once, Eat Twice (beef), https://youtu.be/8zUbDULKKXg
Cook Once, Eat Twice (chicken), https://youtu.be/25FM6_Si5hQ
3. Make lists before going to the grocery store.
Make a list of the foods that you will need for the next two weeks based on menus and snacks you and your family planned. When shopping, stick to the list. Avoid impulse purchases.
Keep a running list of things you will need on your next trip to the grocery store.
4. Stock up on fruits and vegetables to boost your immune system.
If you feel uneasy about buying fresh fruits and vegetables right now, choose prepackaged or bagged produce such as potatoes, spinach, celery and carrots or fruit in cartons, such as blueberries and strawberries. As usual, wash your hands and the produce thoroughly before eating, cutting and cooking.
Stock up on canned or frozen fruits and vegetables. Store brands may cost less than name brands and taste just as good. Choose fruits packed in water or their own juices and low-sodium canned vegetables.
5. Choose healthful snacks.
Limit items that are high in calories, fat and sugar, such as sodas, chips, candy, cakes and cookies.
Make smoothies with overripe fruit. Drink water instead of juices or sodas.
Choose foods such as popcorn, baked chips and pretzels, nuts and seeds, cheese sticks, hummus with celery or carrot sticks and fruit bars.
6. Vary your protein.
Eggs are a great source of protein, inexpensive and very versatile. Check out our microwaveable frittata recipe at www.youtube.com/watch?v= V98ZyTXldx8.
Try going meatless a couple days a week. Choose dry beans and peas. Eat over rice, or make soups and even dips with them. Try this bean soup recipe: https://youtu.be/eY2Au3vHJEw.
Turkeys aren’t just for Thanksgiving. Buy a whole turkey or chicken and bake it. Debone it to make other meals such as stir-fry or casseroles.
Buy canned fish, such as tuna and salmon, and chicken.
Nut butters, such as peanut butter, are a great source of protein.
7. Make it yourself.
Can’t find bread or pasta? Make your own. With a couple of basic, low-cost ingredients, this is a great project for kids to do.
8. Save at the checkout counter.
Check the clearance shelves for deals. Be sure to check expiration dates.
Don’t forget to use your rewards card or points at the checkout counter.
Look for phone apps that save money on groceries or will earn points or money back on your purchases.
Use coupons on items only if you already purchase them.

A shortage of hospital ventilators is the biggest immediate challenge in Louisiana’s fight against COVID-19, Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a Wednesday afternoon press conference.
The conference came after the Office of Public Health website reported an increase of more than 400 positive tests for the virus, including three in St. Mary, in a single day.
“One of the consequences of this is ventilator capacity,” Edwards told reporters Wednesday. “In talking to the Department of Health and the Office of Public Health, this is probably the most significant near-term issue related to our ability to treat COVID-19 patients.”
State officials found 100 ventilators Wednesday to deploy in the New Orleans area, which has been hit hardest. Edward said the state expects to place 100 more there Thursday and has a line on 100 more ventilators early next week. But that doesn’t deal with potential shortages in places like Baton Rouge or Shreveport, the governor said.
“We zero out the warehouse every day,” Edwards said.
CEO Tim Cook of Apple has agreed to donate 100,000 N95 protective masks to Louisiana, the governor said.
Even with the donations and the additional ventilators, Edwards said, Louisiana’s hospital capacity could be overwhelmed. The state is looking at ways to create “step down” clinics where patients who are recovering could go, free ICU or other hospital beds for those who require more care.
He said Louisiana continues to try to “flatten the curve,” slowing the spread of COVID-19 so that the inevitable rise in infections occurs more slowly over a longer period of time rather than with a sudden spike that overwhelms medical resources.
“Our efforts really are going to be in vain to a large degree if we don’t get people to do their part by following the stay at home order issued at 5 p.m. Monday,” Edwards said.
The order instructs Louisiana people to stay home from work, unless they’re employed in industries deemed essential or are shopping for food or medication.
K-12 schools have been closed until at least April 13.
The governor said he was encouraged by the progress toward a federal coronavirus aid package in Congress. The Senate was due to vote on the package Wednesday afternoon.
The state government is still trying to find out exactly what’s in the $2 trillion legislation, but the early word is that it includes unemployment benefits for contract workers who aren’t eligible under traditional jobless benefit rules.
Some people have had trouble resetting passwords as they tried to sign up on the Louisiana Workforce Commission site, where idled workers go to apply for benefits, Edwards said.
They should send an email to hire@lwc.la.gov with “password reset” in the subject line and the applicant’s name and phone number and the last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number.
Edwards also thanked President Donald Trump for approving Louisiana’s request for a federal major disaster declaration.