There is perhaps an overload of information circulating the internet, television, and social media with various discussions about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The COVID-19 strain is a serious issue, and NCRSOL is watching developments closely for our registry, family, and ally communities. 

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illness in humans. Human coronaviruses commonly circulate in the United States and usually cause mild illnesses like the common cold. Coronaviruses like COVID-19 are most often spread through the air by coughing or sneezing, through close personal contact (including touching and shaking hands) or through touching your nose, mouth or eyes before washing your hands.

The CDC recommends to follow these common-sense measures to protect yourself and others from spreading viruses, including COVID-19:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at a time.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.

The CDC does not recommend that people who are healthy wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory viruses. Facemasks should be used by people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses like flu to protect others from getting infected. 

Currently, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself from respiratory diseases like COVID-19 is to take common-sense precautions. 

Most people with illnesses due to coronavirus recover on their own. There are no specific treatments for COVID-19, but treatments to bring down fever or alleviate other symptoms may help. For people who become severely ill, hospitals can provide care. 

Older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung, or kidney disease and those with weakened immune systems seem to be at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness.

If you develop symptoms within 14 days after travel from an affected area or have contact with a person known to have COVID-19, you should call to discuss this with your health care provider and your local health department. Effective 3/13/2019, President Trump authorized a national emergency declaration. That declaration allows states to set up emergency operation centers “effective immediately” and asking “every hospital in the country to activate its emergency preparedness plan.” 

Those impacted by the N.C. Sex Offender Registry bi-annual and in some cases, quarterly in-person sheriffs visits have not been put on hold or suspended. The staff at NCRSOL urges all those directly impacted by the sex offender registry to continue to obey the law and appear when notified by letter to do so. It is advisable to check with the Sheriff in your county of registration for up-to-date information should COVID-19 procedures and closing suddenly escalate. Never assume because the courts are closed that the Sheriff’s office will be closed. Law enforcement is a continual 24-hour cycle. Additionally, there is no legal remedy within current state registry laws that allows for national emergencies. NCRSOL urges all registrants to remain compliant to avoid unnecessary legal problems. 

Most of all, NCRSOL urges everyone to be safe, healthy, and informed. Hopefully, soon the COVID-19 will pass so that we may get back to a sense of normalcy in our daily lives.