Doctor warns: Treat everyone as if they have COVID

COVID cases are at record levels in North Carolina. The daily average of new cases has topped 8,000 over the past week. Despite curiosity, we won’t know about every single one.

Viewers are emailing 5 On Your Side their concerns about cases in public places.

They write about COVID in grocery stores: "Who is monitoring retail store numbers and are these numbers available to the public?"

They wonder about restaurants. "They have 4 positive cases right now and refuse to shut down."

And about child care facilities: "…It is very concerning that as a parent I do not know the exact number."

Health experts agree, at this point, we should just assume COVID is everywhere we shop, visit or eat.

"The main thing we have to think about is — anybody that’s not in your household, you kind of have to treat them as if they may have the virus," said Dr. Anita Skariah.

Skariah is medical director and family physician at the Orange Family Medical Group.

WRAL viewers also wonder why businesses don’t close if an employee is diagnosed with the coronavirus.

On that topic, CDC guidance has changed.

"The short answer is no, you don’t need to be closing down businesses," said Skariah.

The CDC does recommend that businesses "… do close off any areas used for prolonged periods of time by the sick person…" to thoroughly clean and disinfect.

So assume the worst and stay aware as we get through the next several post-holiday weeks.

"It doesn’t matter where you go, you have to be careful," said Skariah.