These are extraordinary times for public health. Not only are we at heightened concern for the communities we serve, but we’re also extending that concern to our families, friends, and neighbors, to local businesses and restaurants, and our hospitals and clinics. As we redouble our efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our work, expertise, and actions are needed more than ever. Our roles will be expanding in ways that will rapidly unfold, and NACCHO wants to emphasize that we’re here for our colleagues throughout the country, ready to respond to the best of our abilities.
NACCHO’s activation in this pandemic has been elevated to a Level 3 (highest) and a full Incident Command Structure (ICS) has been activated. At a Level 3, moderate to significant alteration of staff schedules should be expected; ICS staff may be prioritizing and spending significant amounts of time on COVID-19 related response activities.
We recognize that state and local public health agencies may be receiving COVID-19 updates at different times through other communication channels. Please know that we are collaborating with ASTHO, APHL, CSTE, and CDC to disseminate relevant and accurate information as quickly as possible to our members.
NACCHO has deployed a liaison to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Secretary Operations Center (SOC) and is in constant contact with the CDC. If you have issues that you need elevated, send an email to [email protected].
We have also set up a dedicated COVID-19 Virtual Community, where best practices can be shared and LHDs can learn from each other about ways to respond. All LHO and Preparedness Coordinators have been sent log-in information, please contact them for access.
We need to hear from you. If you’re with a local health department, please submit your stories on this short form about your COVID-19 response efforts: https://www.naccho.org/programs/coronavirus. This feedback is critical to our work to advocate on your behalf. (And yes! please submit it again as the situation changes.)
Other ways to keep in touch with NACCHO as we all work to address the pandemic include the following:
- Basic information about NACCHO’s response can be found on our website: https://www.naccho.org/novel-coronavirus-2019-covid-19
- To view the most recent news items where NACCHO staff have shared their expertise, please visit our newsroom at https://www.naccho.org/communications/newsroom/coverage
- Find official information on CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- Follow NACCHO at @NACCHOalerts on social media, where we’re posting news, information, and updates as soon as we can: https://twitter.com/NACCHOalerts
If there’s anything we can do, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We truly are all in it together, and our work matters more than ever – not only for our communities, but for the nation, and the world. Thank you for all you do.
