2020 Census Operational Adjustments March 21 2020

2020 Census Operational
Adjustments Due to COVID-19
The 2020 Census is underway and households across America are responding every day. In light of
the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau has adjusted 2020 Census operations in order to:
•	 Protect the health and safety of Census Bureau employees and the American public.
•	 Implement guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities.
•	 Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.
The table below summarizes the adjustments to operations. Should any additional adjustment
become necessary, the Census Bureau will promptly publish the change in an updated document.

STATUS OF CURRENT OPERATIONS—Con.
Activity/Operation

Planned
Schedule

Adjustment

Revised
Schedule

Self-Response Phase

March 12–July 31

Extended

March 12–August 14

March 15–April 17

Delayed

March 29–May 1

March 16–April 30

Suspended and
extended

March 16–May 14

The public is strongly encouraged
to respond online. (Options for
responding by phone or mail are
also available.)

Update Leave
Census takers will drop off
invitations at the front doors
of 5 million households. These
households can respond online
now—even without their invitation—
by providing their address.

Update Enumerate
Census takers will interview about
2,000 households in remote parts
of northern Maine and southeast
Alaska. They’re interviewing people
outside their home, allowing 6 feet
of space between one another.

Connect with us
@uscensusbureau
For more information:

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D-FS-GP-EN-018	March 21, 2020

STATUS OF CURRENT OPERATIONS—Con.
Activity/Operation
Mobile Questionnaire
Assistance

Planned
Schedule

Adjustment

Revised
Schedule

March 30–July 31

Delayed

April 13–August 14

April 9–July 31

Delayed

May 7–August 14

May 13–July 31

Delayed

May 28–August 14

April 2–June 5

Delayed

April 16–June 19

March 30–April 1

Delayed

April 29–May 1

Census Bureau staff will assist
people with responding online at
places such as grocery stores and
community centers.

Early Nonresponse Followup
(NRFU)
Census takers will follow up with
households that haven’t responded
yet around some colleges and
universities.

Nonresponse Followup (NRFU)
and NRFU Reinterview
Census takers will interview
households in person that have not
responded online, by phone, or by
mail.

Group Quarters Enumeration
We’re encouraging administrators
of facilities like nursing homes,
prisons, and student housing to
choose an option for counting
their residents that requires less
in-person contact.

Service-Based Enumeration
We’re working with service
providers at soup kitchens, shelters,
and regularly scheduled food vans
to count the people they serve.

2020CENSUS.GOV

STATUS OF CURRENT OPERATIONS—Con.
Activity/Operation
Census counts people
experiencing homelessness
outdoors

Planned
Schedule

Adjustment

Revised
Schedule

April 1

Delayed

May 1

April 9–May 4

Delayed

April 23–May 18

By December 31

On schedule

By December 31

By April 1, 2021

On schedule

By April 1, 2021

Census takers will count people
under bridges, in parks, in all-night
businesses, etc.

Enumeration of Transitory
Locations
Census takers count people
staying at campgrounds, RV parks,
marinas, and hotels if they do not
usually live elsewhere.

Deliver apportionment counts
to the President
By law, the Census Bureau will
deliver each state’s population
total, which determines its number
of seats in the U.S. House of
Representatives.

Deliver redistricting counts
to states
By law, the Census Bureau will
deliver the local counts each state
needs to complete legislative
redistricting.

2020CENSUS.GOV