ALBANY COUNTY — With members of a household needing to isolate themselves to prevent the spread of COVID-19, abuse can become a problem, according to Karen Ziegler, the director of the county’s Victim and Sexual Violence Center.

“Social distancing is critical … We have to stay home,” Ziegler said at Sunday’s county press briefing. “However, social distancing can create its own problems”

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple mentioned soon after the social-distancing guidelines were announced that his office had a spike in domestic calls.

“When there’s violence in a home, when there’s abuse in a home, isolation is a problem,” said Ziegler. She said it could be a problem for children, for men, for women, or for the elderly.

“When there is tension in the home, violence can increase,” she said. Child abuse, sexual assualt, and elder abuse can all increase in these difficult times, she said.

“We’re just starting to hear there may be an increase in domestic violence,” Ziegler said of Albany County, a trend that has been noted elsewhere. She is concerned that people who are being abused may be afraid to go to a hospital because of the pandemic.

“We have accompanied sexual abuse and elder violence victims to hospitals when they had medical exams,” she said. “We’re not getting those calls now and I’m very concerned people may be afraid to go to hospitals right now.

“There’s a lot of talk right now about not going to the hospitals, not overwhelming the system… We’re concerned there may be people being assaulted at home, most especially children because they have no avenue outside of the house …

“We’re concerned this is going on right now and we’re not getting the calls; we’re not seeing folks in the hospitals.”

Ziegler spoke directly to people who may be abused, “If you don’t feel safe going to the hospital, please go to our website, go to other websites to see what you can do to [make a] safety plan. There are things that can be done to try to decrease the violence, to try to increase your safety. “

She stressed, too, that beds are available at this time in shelters for domestic violence victims.

“We want you to know we are available for you 24/7,” Ziegler said, giving the hotline phone number: 518-447-7716. Also, tele-counseling sessions may be scheduled by calling 518-447-7100. Information is also posted on the center’s website and Facebook page.

“We know you are the expert in your own situation,” said Ziegler, speaking to residents who are abused. “We would not presume to tell you what to do. However, we’re happy to talk with you, to do safety planning with you, to work on how we can get you to safety and resources that are available to you.”

Ziegler urged, “Please reach out to us. Please let us help you. We’re here all year long, all day long. Let us know what we can do for you.”

“It doesn’t have to be physical. It can be mental abuse, too,” added Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy. Because of the pandemic, Albany County has set up a mental-health helpline at 518-269-6634, which is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On the center’s website, Ziegler speaks in a video to people who are suffering during the pandemic from domestic violence. Living in “close quarters” with much of society shut down, Ziegler says, “This abuser has a great deal of access to you because you’re not leaving to go to school or work or any social events.

“These times are stressful. Stress often raises people’s thoughts of violence and control. Those people who are abusing you may not give you accurate information. They may threaten to withhold medication …

“They may be telling you shelters are unavailable. They may be telling you that going to the hospital to report violence is not an option for you … We can be there with you by phone if you go to the hospital,” she says.

“We want to discuss safety planning with you … offer ideas, suggestions.”