CDC Guidelines for General Population Disaster Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- By: National Network of Public Health Institutes
- Date
These guidelines are intended to help inform the general population about safe sheltering practices in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The guidelines are based on current information about the transmission and severity of COVID-19 and as such will be updated as new information is received. As such it is recommended to periodically check the CDC COVID-19 website for updated information. Listed here are a few important tips on safe sheltering practices. For more information, and to view the complete list of guidelines, visit the CDC website.
Tips for Safe Sheltering During the COVID-19 Pandemic:
- Hotels/dormitories and small shelters (fewer than 50 residents) should be prioritized over larger shelters. Large congregate shelters should be a last resort.
- Body temperature monitoring should be conducted for all persons entering the shelter and in food distribution areas.
- Shelter staff and residents should wear a cloth face covering at all times except when not practical, such as when eating or showering. NOTE: Cloth face coverings should not be placed on babies or children younger than 2 years of age or anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the covering without assistance.
How You Can Get Involved
To request training or to get more information about how the Hurricane Response Hub can help your organization improve its hurricane-related disaster-related health recovery efforts, visit https://nnphi.org/focus-areas-service/hurricane-response-hub/.
For more information on what NNPHI is doing to respond to COVID-19, visit here.
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