The coronavirus brings a worldwide concern to our community, and we understand it can be very scary and confusing. Central Piedmont continues to remain in contact with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Mecklenburg County Health Department, for updates and direction.
The governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, declared a state of emergency Tuesday (3/10/20), as leaders and public health officials continue to deal with the coronavirus. As of this writing, the Charlotte Observer reports North Carolina now has seven people who have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, health officials said. All of the patients are in isolation while officials identify close contacts.”
Now that cases have been confirmed in North and South Carolina, it’s time to put aside panic and focus on preparation. We can all stop stigma and the spread of misinformation related to COVID-19 by knowing the facts and sharing them with others.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provided resources on mental health and coping during COVID-19 and also issued information about helping end coronavirus-related stigma and discrimination that is occurring toward groups of people including:
- Persons of Asian descent
- People who have traveled abroad or to states with coronavirus outbreaks
- Emergency responders or healthcare professionals
In the meantime, the college’s contracted company for cleaning and janitorial services is taking extra care to clean and disinfect the usual virus and germ “transmission points,” such as doorknobs, light switches, water fountains, phones, countertops, etc.
To reduce your chances of contracting any kind of illness, the CDC recommends the following.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick (social distancing).
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
We pledge to give you as much updated information as we can. This is an update to let you know we are thinking of every option to keep you safe and healthy. Visit the college’s Emergency Management website for updates from Central Piedmont.