Page 1 - 032520-Market-Bulletin

EstablishEd 1917 a CEntury of sErviCE

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE • GARY W. BLACK, COMMISSIONER • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2020 • VOL. 103, NO. 7 • © COPYRIGHT 2020
FroM the coMMissioner: Now is the time to be fearless

To our readers: Due to tech- By Gary W. Black Have you considered the ronment. Every division will
nical issues, we were a day late going Georgia Agriculture Commissioner benefit of what near-term might be staffed with primary lead-
100th Anniversary
be an abundance of this thing
1917 – 2017
to press with this issue. We apologize David and Solomon both affirmed that formally known as family time? ership every day. Many field
inspectors will be maintaining
for the inconvenience, which was in “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wis- Might some relationships be contact with licensed establish-
dom.” Contextually, this fear refers to rever- restored? Will one kitchen pan ments via email and telephone.
no way related to Coronavirus. We ence, respect and awe. Cable news and social say to the other, “It’s been years Business-vital services like
are committed to a schedule of un- media outlets seem to prefer the terror aspect since both of us have been used meat inspection and seed labo-
of the word. Terror detracts wisdom. for five nights in a row”? Yes, ratory testing will continue for
interrupted production of the Market As citizens of the greatest state in the good looms nearby during this now on regular schedules. Our
Bulletin for as long as circumstances greatest nation on earth, we must not be fear- interruption in normalcy if we teams will investigate com-
plaints.
ful. Now is the time to be fearless. Why? Your fearlessly search for it.
allow. family is watching. Your neighbors may need COVID-19 demands at- Lastly, though normal tele-
you. Your colleagues at work and church re- tention. The seriousness of its phone traffic will temporari-
You may view the latest issues and spect you. Your state and country rely on you. threat is obvious. But in this ly require an enhanced voice
place and search Classified ads on- Lastly, you need to be you for your own good drama Respect and Wisdom en- mail system as your first point
during tough times. Your (my) response sets ter stage-right in starring roles.
of contact, you have my per-
line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at the tone. Establishing the standard for react- Wisdom says follow recom- sonal assurance that license in-
ing to current challenges is an enormous re- mended steps to reduce risks. quiries, general questions and
agr.georgia.gov/market-bulletin.aspx. sponsibility. Respect pleads for good decision-making and most any other regulatory need will be met.
What young couple needs help with kids compassion. I am convinced their fearless
We have never seen COVID-19 before?
We’re still here if you need us. who are out of school? Can you pick up a pre- performances will yield a positive review. I suggest COVID-19 has never seen the re-
Don’t hesitate to reach out. scription for Mrs. Johnson? Will you help stop Take the stage with them. sponse of 11 million fearless Georgians either.
the run on toilet paper by being patient? These Your Department of Agriculture is on the Be safe. God, please bless and keep Georgia
are small but fearless steps we all must take. job, albeit in a Coronavirus-adjusted envi- and the United States of America.
Mercer Medical MoMent: Ways you can help disrupt COVID-19

By Amber Schmidtke, Ph.D. shortness of breath, making it difficult to washing your hands frequently, for 20 sec- COVID-19, communities across Georgia
Mercer University School distinguish this infection from seasonal al- onds each time, with soap and water will in- and the United States are enacting social
of Medicine lergies, a common cold, or influenza. Most activate and remove the virus. Soap is pref- distancing measures, which are motivated by
cases are mild and can be successfully man- erable to hand sanitizer, but hand sanitizer the concern that if too many people are ill at
Coronavirus disease aged at home. can be used if it is at least 60 percent alcohol. the same time, we might overwhelm the ca-
2019 (COVID-19) is However, patients with underlying medi- Beware: the virus can remain infectious for pacity of our hospitals and clinics to proper-
caused by a virus that cal conditions – including heart disease, hy- up to three days on metal and plastic, and up ly care for the sick. While these closures and
belongs to a family of pertension and kidney disease – are at higher to 24 hours on cardboard. disruptions are major inconveniences, social
viruses that can cause risk for serious complications and may re- Common household disinfectants should distancing has been proven to work during
a wide spectrum of dis- quire hospitalization. If you are experienc- be used to clean frequently touched surfaces past pandemics and has limited COVID-19
ease, ranging from the ing symptoms, it is important to call your such as door knobs, light switches, appliance spread in other countries.
common cold to severe medical provider to ask whether you might buttons, etc. The proper length of time be- For more information, visit
acute respiratory syn- be a candidate for testing. Currently, there is tween applying a disinfectant and wiping it www.dph.georgia.gov/ or email Dr. Amber
drome. For COVID-19, the most commonly no vaccine or medication approved to treat up is critical in killing and removing the vi- Schmidtke at Mercer University School of
observed symptoms are fever, cough, and COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself rus from these surfaces, so be sure to follow Medicine (schmidtke_aj@mercer.edu)
is to avoid contact with the virus. the manufacturer’s directions.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with your In addition to these personal precau- -Amber Schmidtke, Ph.D., is assistant
elbow (not your hands!) and avoid touching tions, avoid crowded areas where you can- professor of microbiology in the Depart-
your eyes, nose, and mouth. Thankfully, not maintain six feet of distance between ment of Biomedical Sciences at Mercer Uni-
the virus is disrupted by ordinary soap. So yourself and others. To limit the spread of versity School of Medicine in Macon.

April is Pest Control Month in Georgia

Gov. Brian Kemp signed a proclamation
declaring April Pest Control Month in Geor-
gia. Pictured with the Governor are members
of Georgia’s Structural Pest Control Com-
mission and the Structural Pest Section of the
Please deliver this paid subscription to: Published by the Ga. Department of Agriculture Gary W. Black, Commissioner Cliff Baird, Garry Adams, Gov. Kemp, Stuart
Georgia Department of Agriculture, from left:
Derrick Lastinger, Tim Taylor, Connie Rogers,
Sinyard, Brantley Russell, Glen Ramsey, Brett
Craig, Rick Bell and Bodine Sinyard. GDA’s
Structural Pest Section works with the com-
mission to license and regulate pest manage-
ment professionals, specifically those engaged
in the business of structural pest control in the
state of Georgia. Structural Pest refers to the
process intended to eliminate, remove and in-
spect for unwanted insects and/or animals in or
around structures.