Category: COVID-19

Brewery Planned To Make Hard Seltzer But Made Hand Sanitizer

KILN, Miss. (AP) — Lazy Magnolia Brewing has been on the Mississippi Coast for 15 years.

They’re known for their ales, but as cases of the new coronavirus began to rise in Mississippi, co-owner Leslie Henderson saw something distilleries across the country were doing to help their communities.

The brewery had been looking at making flavored seltzers, thanks to the popularity of White Claw and other hard seltzers over the past year. But that project was put on hold.

Instead, they decided to use those materials to make something the community needed during the COVID-19 pandemic — hand sanitizer.

“We had a drum of denatured food-grade alcohol,” Henderson said. “We found a recipe from the World Health Organization to make an effective hand sanitizer.”

The hand sanitizer is a liquid consistency that Henderson suggested be put into a spray bottle. They combined the alcohol and glycerin or aloe to keep the hands moisturized. They also use filtered rainwater from the roof that’s normally purified and sold as Richard’s Rainwater.

The project was announced on the brewery’s Facebook page Monday afternoon (March 16). When Henderson arrived 45 minutes before the doors opened, people were already lined up.

“I honestly thought I’d be making a couple gallons a day, and giving it to friends, family and some employees,” Henderson said.

“It was completely unexpected. It recoups cost of materials, keeps people employed, and gives the community something it needs.”

One of the people to reach out was the Bay St. Louis Police Department, which had been asking for donations. Henderson made sure that she hand-delivered some bottles.

“That was the first thing I did,” she said. She also saved some bottles in reserve in case they needed more.

In keeping with the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, the brewery allowed 10 people at a time inside. People lined up at the door, some with their own containers and others ready to purchase spray bottles or metal growlers usually used for beer.

One by one, each person’s vessel of choice was filled with sanitizer running at 75 cents an ounce. Many community members came up to thank Henderson and her crew.

By 1 p.m. Tuesday, the brewery ran out of hand sanitizer. Henderson estimated about 50 people had come through their doors to buy hand sanitizer since they opened.

“The power of social media,” Henderson said.

While the brewery doesn’t plan on making hand sanitizer for long, they hope it can help their community until mass-produced bottles start populating the shelves again.

Lazy Magnolia has gotten creative after weathering multiple disasters and roadblocks in their 15 years on the Coast.

The brewery started the year Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. They survived the BP oil spill, the 2008 market crash and most recently the Bonnet Carré Spillway’s impact on tourism.

This is another hard time they plan to help their community through.

“We really want to be something good,” Henderson said. “We had to get creative and keep people employed. That’s just in our nature now, to all get together… How can we be a positive in our community?”

March 21, 2020
Big Jump In Number Of New Coronavirus Cases In Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi now has at least 140 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up from 80 reported a day earlier, health officials said Saturday.

Of those cases, 24% are being treated in hospitals, the Mississippi Department of Health reported. In addition, the agency said its laboratory had tested more than 770 people. Positive cases have been reported in 45 of the state’s 84 counties.

Only one death has been reported for the state.

The vast majority of people infected with the novel coronavirus get only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and recover in about two weeks. But many will need hospitalization. Particularly vulnerable are older adults and those with existing health problems who can develop severe complications, including pneumonia.

COVID-19 testing will begin next week at the Mississippi Fairgrounds in Jackson. The drive-thru testing site will open by appointment starting Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those showing symptoms such as fever or respiratory problems, said state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs.

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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.

March 21, 2020
Virus cases top 500 in Louisiana, new testing sites open

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Additional testing centers for the new coronavirus ran out of the day’s supply of tests within hours of opening Friday in New Orleans, one of the nation’s hot spots for the virus.

Four more state residents died, including the first victim outside of southeastern Louisiana, as doctors worried about dwindling supplies and an expected spike in patients.

Also Friday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell bolstered her earlier efforts to prevent gatherings that could result in the virus spreading with a “stay at home mandate.” She said at a news conference that people should leave their homes only for “critical needs” such as food or grocery runs or doctor visits. Restaurants can continue to offer takeout food.

“You can go outside for recreation but do not do so in a group,” said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the city’s health director.

Tests were available at New Orleans’ two new drive-thru sites, in the parking lots of a local theater and a university arena. But they initially were being offered only to health care workers and first responders showing symptoms consistent with the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus, according to New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office. The sites are supplied by the federal government.

Both locations, with materials for 100 tests a day, shut down by early afternoon — several hours earlier than advertised — after reaching their day’s testing capacity early. They were expected to reopen Saturday.

More than 500 people in Louisiana tested positive for the virus by Friday morning, and 14 Louisiana residents have died from COVID-19, according to state health department data.

While more than three-quarters of positive tests were in the New Orleans area, cases of the virus were showing up in nearly every metropolitan region of the state, and in 28 of Louisiana’s 64 parishes.

One of the deaths announced Friday by the state health department was a 38-year-old Catahoula Parish resident who had existing health problems, the first person known to die from the virus in central Louisiana — and the state’s youngest recorded death from the virus.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, like other states’ leaders, has offered dire warnings about the risk of health care shortages, if residents don’t actively decrease contact with others. Edwards has closed schools, shuttered bars and gyms and limited restaurants to takeout and delivery.

The vast majority of people recover within weeks after catching the virus, and for most, it causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe illness requiring hospitalization.

Hospitals were canceling elective procedures and moving staff from other facilities to ready for increases in COVID-19 patients. Health care facilities in Louisiana, like counterparts around the nation, were having difficulty getting medical equipment.

Dr. Katherine Williams said she has the needed supplies in her Covington obstetrics and gynecology office right now. But she’s watching it dwindle — even toilet paper and paper towels are on back order for doctors.

As president of the Louisiana State Medical Society, Williams is hearing concerns from doctors around the state. Surgical masks are running low. Disinfectant wipes are running out. Gloves are difficult to find. Hospitals are rationing and sterilizing items they once tossed in the trash can after one use.

Williams is urging companies that produce masks, gloves and cleaning products to give health care workers a priority for getting those items. She said medical supply levels likely will reach critical lows by next week.

“The ability for us to care for those who are most sick is going to be diminished,” Williams said.

The slow rate of testing — and the lag time in getting results — further stretched resources, said Paul Salles, president of the Louisiana Hospital Association. Hospitals were using protective gear for any patient who had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 until a test returned negative. With those test results taking up to seven days, Salles said: “We’re just burning through equipment faster than expected.”

March 21, 2020
Mississippi limits dine-in at restaurants to slow virus

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi State Department of Health recommended on Friday that all restaurants and bars immediately stop dine-in services and that people not attend weddings, funerals, church services or other gatherings of 10 or more people, all to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus

Health officials also said a drive-through testing center for the virus will open Tuesday on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson.

Separately, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency announced that it will work with the state Health Department and the National Guard, starting Saturday, to distribute medical workers’ personal protective equipment. Some of it will come from gear already held in reserve by the state and some from a national stockpile.

And, Gov. Tate Reeves said, federal loans are available for small businesses affected by a downturn in commerce because of the virus.

“Small businesses and their employees are struggling to stay afloat during this trying time, but we will get through this together,” Reeves said Friday in announcing that the Small Business Administration is making loans of up to $2 million.

The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said bars and restaurants may still provide carry-out food. He said the recommendation to close dining rooms “will in no way affect gas stations, pharmacies, grocery stores or food marts.”

The drive-through testing center opening Tuesday on the fairgrounds will see patients by appointment only. People will need to answer questions to be screened for an appointment. Other drive-through centers are already operating in some parts of the state, including Tupelo, Philadelphia and Batesville.

The testing site in Jackson will be operated by the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Mississippi State Department of Health. Up to 128 appointments a day will be available for people who show symptoms of the virus, including fever.

To get an appointment, people must answer questions either by telephone or by using a health app created by C Spire, a Mississippi-based wireless provider.

“If you do not do that and you just show up at the testing site, you will not be tested,” said Dr. Alan Jones, head of emergency medicine at UMMC.

Screening by phone call or app begins Monday, and appointments begin Tuesday. Officials said the testing site could be closed during thunderstorms or other dangerous weather.

Mississippi reported 80 cases of the new coronavirus as of Friday, up from 50 Thursday. The state Health Department said 775 people had been tested in Mississippi by Friday.

A Mississippi man died of the new coronavirus in a Louisiana hospital, the Mississippi State Department of Health said Thursday. The department said the Hancock County resident was between 60 and 65 years old and had an underlying medical condition.

A growing number of Mississippi cities are closing bars and telling restaurants to either limit or temporarily stop dine-in options because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Casinos in the state are closed, and auto manufacturing plants will shut down temporarily.

The vast majority of people infected with this novel coronavirus get only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, and recover in about two weeks. But many will need hospitalization. Particularly vulnerable are older adults and those with existing health problems who can develop severe complications, including pneumonia.

The Mississippi state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said Friday that some people who have sought testing so far are the “worried well.” He urged people to practice social distancing and to wash their hands to slow the spread of the virus.

“It’s going to be a hard few weeks, for sure … but the main thing right now is to cut this epidemic off,” Dobbs said.

The mayor of Jackson issued an order banning gatherings of 10 or more people. The co-owner of three Jackson-area restaurants said he and his partner made the difficult decision to close all three outlets until the virus threat passes. Jeff E. Good said they first tried to limit service to carry-out orders.

“We just didn’t see how we could still prepare food and deliver it to you curbside, since by definition we were not practicing any social distancing and had many folks involved in the make, bake and take process,” Good wrote on Facebook.

Reeves said Thursday that public schools will be closed until at least April 17 to curb the spread of the virus.

March 21, 2020
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Mississippi Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for
working capital to Mississippi small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the
Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its
own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental
Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request
received from Gov. Tate Reeves on March 18, 2020.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of Mississippi; and the
contiguous counties of Choctaw, Colbert, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Marion, Mobile, Pickens,
Sumter and Washington in Alabama; Chicot, Crittenden, Desha, Lee, Phillips in Arkansas; Concordia,
East Carroll, East Feliciana, Madison, Saint Helena, Saint Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Washington
and West Feliciana in Louisiana; and Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, McNairy and Shelby in Tennessee.
“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible
to assist Mississippi small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help
these small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said
Administrator Carranza.
SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic
Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.
“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and
small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to
help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster
not occurred,” said Carranza.
“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be
paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small
businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added.
Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private nonprofit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep
payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial
ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download
applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer
Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more
information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call
(800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration,
Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 21, 2020.
For more information about Coronavirus, please visit: Coronavirus.gov.
For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As
the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal
government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and
support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It
delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and
private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

March 21, 2020
Seventh Judicial District Court, Catahoula and Concordia Parishes Court Dates postponed

March 20, 2020

Disaster Assistance for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

JACKSON — Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced disaster assistance for Mississippi small businesses and their employees impacted by the current outbreak of COVID-19.

Governor Reeves sent a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) two days ago requesting an Economic Disaster Declaration to aid small businesses and their employees, which was approved on Friday, March 20, 2020.

“Small businesses and their employees are struggling to stay afloat during this trying time, but we will get through this together. We are grateful that SBA approved our request in such a swift, timely manner so we are better able to help Mississippi small businesses and their employees weather this storm,” said Governor Tate Reeves.

All Mississippi businesses and non-profits that are severely impacted by COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. These businesses can apply for up to $2 million in working capital that can provide vital economic support to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue that they are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small business owners can begin the process immediately and apply for assistance by visiting this link: sba.gov/disaster

Additionally, the SBA offers a three-step process for disaster loans, which is explained further here: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Documents/Three_Step_Process_SBA_Disaster_Loans.pdf

March 20, 2020

Business Fallout: Companies Hoard Cash, Walmart Hiring 150K

Less than three months ago came the first reports of cases of pneumonia related to a virus first detected in Wuhan, China. The outbreak of the virus that causes COVID-19 has caused unprecedented disruptions that have brought an unparalleled shock to the global economy.

Following are developments Friday related to the outbreak, efforts by governments to stabilize their economies, companies that must navigate through an altered landscape, and the millions of people affected.

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GROUNDED: The lowest number of passengers ever recorded at U.S. airports is being reported by the Transportation Security Administration. Nearly 624,000 people passed through its outbound checkpoints on Thursday, the TSA said. That compares with 2.4 million on the same day a year earlier. It’s the lowest number of outbound passengers ever recorded by an agency created in November 2001 in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The CEO and labor leaders at American Airlines wrote to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and congressional leaders Friday imploring them to quickly approve aid for airlines or else workers will lose their jobs. The company says it will accept “appropriate conditions” on government aid.

Frankfurt airport operator Fraport AG has put 18,000 of its 22,000 employees on shortened schedules, saying that “traffic has come almost to a halt.” Wages will be partly covered by the German government’s short-work policy. The company said it would add payments to ensure at least 75% of pay. Fraport also took its northwest landing runway out of service. It will instead be used to park unused airplanes.

An air traffic control supervisor in Indianapolis tested positive, the Federal Aviation Administration reported. Some work areas were closed Thursday night, but the center remained open Friday while crews cleaned work areas. It’s the third FAA facility affected by COVID-19. Earlier this week, airport towers in Chicago and Las Vegas closed temporarily, leading to hundreds of canceled and delayed flights.

The Hong Kong low-cost airline HK Express, part of the Cathay Pacific Group, is suspending all flights through the end of April with millions of potential travelers shutting in. HK Express normally flies 25 routes throughout Asia. Cathay’s flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, has cut 90% of its flights and asked staff to take unpaid leave.

American Airlines is initiating cargo-only flights between the US and Europe. FedEx and UPS were expecting to absorb a greater share of cargo typically carried by commercial airlines, which have severely cut capacity.

Air Canada is laying off more than 5,000 flight attendants, about 60% of that staff, according to a union official, as the country’s largest airline grounds its planes. Wesley Lesosky, who heads the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, said the layoffs include 3,600 Air Canada employees, as well as 1,549 at Rogue, Air Canada’s discount carrier. The layoffs will take effect by April. Air Canada says the layoffs are temporary. The Montreal company said earlier this week that it will suspend the majority of its international and U.S. flights by the end of the month.

THE STORES: With outbreak-related layoffs expected to surge, at least two major retailers are hiring in a big way. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, said late Thursday that it plans to hire 150,000 U.S. hourly workers for its stores and distribution centers through the end of May as online orders surge with households stocking up. The jobs are temporary, but many will become permanent, said spokesman Dan Bartlett. He said that the company is reaching out to industry groups in the restaurant and hospitality industry, both of which are getting slammed by lockdowns and travel bans. Amazon this week said it would hire 100,000 people across the U.S. to keep up with a crush of orders hires.

CLOSE TO HOME: The chairman and CEO of Marlboro-maker Altria Group has contracted COVID-19. The company said in a regulatory filing that Howard Willard is on medical leave. Chief Financial Officer William Gifford, Jr. will lead the company in Willard’s absence. The company is also suspending operations at its plant in Richmond, Virginia, for two weeks after two employees contracted the COVID-19 virus. Some domestic operations at its John Middleton Co. subsidiary will also be suspended due to supply chain issues. The tobacco giant said employees will continue to receive regular pay during the two-week shutdown.

FIREWALL: Companies across almost every sector are raising cash to ride out the outbreak.

Kohl’s has fully drawn its $1 billion unsecured credit facility. The department store chain, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is slashing inventory and expenses. Kohl’s Corp. has closed its 1,100 stores for at least the rest of the month. It and many other major chains are temporarily closing stores to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

AT&T cancelled a $4 billion accelerated stock buyback program scheduled for the second quarter. The company said in a regulatory filing that it’s also canceling any other stock repurchases so it can have financial flexibility and continue to invest in its business. AT&T said it’s currently unable to estimate the impact the virus will have on its financial and operational results.

FUTURE UNKNOWN: Coca-Cola Co. no longer expects to reach previously set financial goals for the year. Coke said in a regulatory filing that restaurant closures, suspended NHL, NBA and MLB seasons, reduced travel, social distancing, and more people working from home is straining operations. The Atlanta company said that it cannot reasonably estimate the negative impact the virus will have.

Kohl’s withdrew its full-year and first-quarter forecasts. Several other chains like Nordstrom and Abercrombie & Fitch have also withdrawn their guidance given so much uncertainty.

FACTORIES GO DARK: Thousands of businesses have ordered employees to work remotely. It’s obviously not an option for a number of sectors and the impact on heavy industry has been immense. All major U.S. automakers, including Tesla, have shut down their factories.

Volvo Cars said Friday that its Swedish and U.S. plants will close on Thursday and will remain closed until mid-April. Office employees are being ordered to work remotely with reduced hours. The company said it reopened four manufacturing plants in China earlier this month after an extended closure.

STREAMING LOGJAM: YouTube is reducing its streaming quality in Europe as more users self-isolate at home.

The company, owned by Google, said Friday it would “temporarily default all traffic in the U.K. and the EU to Standard Definition,” instead of high definition. The measure will be in place for 30 days and users will still be able to manually adjust their video quality.

YouTube follows Netflix, which said Thursday that it expects the video bit rate reduction to cut its European traffic by a quarter.

The companies are responding to a call by the European Union’s internal market commission, which urged streaming services and network operators to help prevent network congestion as more people use their home internet connection to work or learn remotely or for entertainment.

iHOARDING: Apple is allowing people to buy only two iPhones online. It may be attempting to prevent the large purchase and resale of its technology at higher prices. Apple is facing a potential demand decline and supply chain issues due to the virus pandemic spreading across the globe. It closed all retail stores outside of China to help fight the spread. Apple did not return a request for comment Friday. Apple announced a new iPad Pro and MacBook Air on Wednesday. It made no mention of new iPhones during the announcement.

March 20, 2020
Adams County Guidlines to close Daycares and Playschools

March 20, 2020
Claiborne County Issues Emergency Proclamation

March 20, 2020