2020 Census NSC COVID 19 May Updates

OMB Nonsubstantive Change Request
Department: Commerce
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau
Title: 2020 Census – May 2020 Update
OMB Control Number: 0607-1006
Expiration Date: 11/30/2021
Request:
This nonsubstantive change request is to document and inform the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) of where the 2020 Census program is today and changes that will be made due
to the COVID-19 outbreak. The U.S. Census Bureau continues to evaluate current plans. In order
to maximize flexibility to adapt quickly in face of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Census Bureau will
make operational changes as needed and will communicate regularly with OMB about the
changes. As plans are finalized, the Census Bureau will document the changes in subsequent
nonsubstantive change requests monthly for the affected time period.
The 2020 Census is underway- more than half the households across America have responded and more are responding every day. Online, phone and mailed self-responses will continue
throughout the data collection process.
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 the American public and Census Bureau employees.
• Implement guidance from Federal, State, and local authorities regarding COVID-19.
• Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.
On March 18, 2020, the Census Bureau announced a two-week suspension of 2020 Census field
operations to help protect the American public and our employees from the COVID-19
outbreak. The press release is available here: https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/pressreleases/operational-updates.html. On the same day, the Census Bureau also made temporary
adjustments to operations at two Census Bureau facilities in Jeffersonville, Indiana: the National
Processing Center and Paper Data Capture Center East. Until April 1, 2020, these two facilities
transitioned to the minimum number of on-site staff necessary to continue operations. The
press release is available here: https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/pressreleases/jeffersonville-statement.html.
On March 28, 2020, the Census Bureau announced an additional two-week suspension of 2020
Census field operations to April 15, 2020. The press release is available here:
https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/press-releases/update-on-2020-census-fieldoperations.html.
On April 2, 2020, the Census Bureau announced that many households across Puerto Rico
would receive a letter by mail inviting them to respond to the 2020 Census, and that census
takers will drop off census materials to all Puerto Rico households, at a later date. In keeping
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with guidance from public health officials in Puerto Rico, the Census Bureau suspended handdelivering census invitations and paper forms to households in mid-March because of health
and safety concerns with COVID-19. The press release is available here:
https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/press-releases/puerto-rico-2020-letter.html.
On April 10, 2020, the Census Bureau announced that to increase call center capacity, the
Census Bureau reinstated a callback option and made more employees available to respond to
the requests for a callback. The callback option enables callers to leave a message and receive a
timely call back from a census taker to process their 2020 Census response when all call center
agents are busy assisting others or after hours. The Census Bureau had temporarily turned off
the callback option because of staffing adjustments. The full press release is available here:
https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/press-releases/increase-call-center-capacity.html.
On April 13, 2020, the Census Bureau announced that it was adjusting 2020 Census operations
in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field
data collection activities in March. Steps would be taken to reactivate field offices beginning
June 1, 2020, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations.
In order to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau is
seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final
apportionment counts. Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field
data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for apportionment
counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered
to the states no later than July 31, 2021. The full press release is available here:
https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/press-releases/statement-covid-19-2020.html.
The schedule for the 2020 Census operational adjustments due to COVID-19, as of April 13,
2020, is the following:

2020 Census Operational Adjustments due to COVID-19
Schedule
As of April 13, 2020

Activity/Operation

Original Schedule

New Schedule

Self-Response Phase

March 12–July 31

March 12–October 31

Group Quarters
(e-Response and Paper
Enumeration)

April 2–June 5

April 2–September 3

Remote Alaska

January 21–April 30

Tentatively
January 21–June 19,
but may need further
review and coordination

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Update Leave—
Stateside

March 15–April 17

June 13 –July 9

Update Leave—Puerto
Rico

March 15–April 17

Update Enumerate
Nonresponse Followup
(NRFU)

March 16–April 30
May 13–July 31

Needs further review and
coordination with outside
partners and stakeholders.
June 14–July 29
August 11–October 31

In-Person Group
Quarters Enumeration

April 2–June 5

July 1–September 3

Service-Based
Enumeration

March 30–April 1

Mobile Questionnaire
Assistance

March 30–July 31

Count of People
Experiencing
Homelessness
Outdoors

April 1

Needs further review and
coordination with outside
partners and stakeholders.
Needs further review and
coordination with outside
partners and stakeholders.
Needs further review and
coordination with outside
partners and stakeholders.

Enumeration at
Transitory Locations

April 9–May 4

Deliver Apportionment
Counts to the President

By December 31, 2020

Tentatively September 3–
September 28, but may
need further review and
coordination.
Deliver by April 30, 2021

Deliver Redistricting
Counts to States

By April 1, 2021

Deliver by July 31, 2021

On April 27, 2020, the Census Bureau announced that guidance issued by the Office of
Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management has given Federal agencies
guidelines to resume operations on an epidemiologically sound, data-driven basis, adhering to
the latest Federal, State and Local guidance. The Census Bureau continues to monitor the
changing conditions at the State and Local level, and in consultation with the appropriate
officials, update its planned start dates for selected operations and in selected states.
Information provided daily to the Census Bureau from the Federal Emergency Management
Agency as well as State and Local authorities, will be used to guide Census Bureau decisions on
timing. As a result, selected field operations will resume on a phased schedule on a geographic
basis.
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Under the adjusted 2020 Census operational plan, the Census Bureau is conducting a series of
preparatory activities so we are fully ready to resume field activities as we continue to advance
the mission of the 2020 Census to ensure a complete and accurate count. In-person activities,
including enumeration, office work, and processing activities, will always incorporate the most
current guidance from authorities to ensure the health and safety of the public and Census
Bureau employees. The full fact sheet is available here: https://www.census.gov/library/factsheets/2020/dec/2020-operational-adjustments-covid-19.html.
Further changes to field operations, contact strategy, or additional mailings may occur. Changes
made to the 2020 Census program will be documented and announced in press releases on the
2020census.gov website (the direct link is https://2020census.gov/en/news-events/pressreleases.html). In addition, the Census Bureau plans to submit monthly nonsubstantive change
requests documenting the changes to the program.

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