Environmental Health Practitioners

Audience: Environmental health practitioners who need information on how to safely provide environmental health services and keep the public protected from environmental hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congregate Facilities and Shelters

• Environmental Health Assessment Form for Disaster Shelters
  This tool assists environmental health practitioners in conducting a rapid assessment of shelter conditions during emergencies and disasters. This tool can be modified to meet local needs during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.
• CDC’s Interim Guidance for General Population Disaster Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  Guidance on reducing the risk of introducing and transmitting COVID-19 in general population disaster shelters before, during, or after a disaster.
• Recommendations for Disaster Sheltering of Household Pets, Service Animals, and Support Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic​
  Guidance ​to assist emergency planners in forming plans for disaster sheltering of household pets and other animals during the pandemic.
• Resources for Correctional and Detention Facilities
  Before and during an outbreak is included in this resource.
• Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities (Interim Guidance)
  Guidance for owners, administrators, operators, workers, volunteers, visitors, and residents of retirement communities and independent living facilities.
• Use these two childcare resources in conjunction
  1. Guidance for Childcare Programs that Remain Open
  2. Child Care programs and K-12 schools
• COVID-19 and Cooling Centers
  Guidance for federal, state, local, and tribal jurisdictions in the United States considering opening or operating cooling centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• COVID-19 Considerations for Cleaner Air Shelters and Cleaner Air Spaces to Protect the Public from Wildfire Smoke
  Interim guidance to reduce the risk of introducing and transmitting SARS-CoV-2 in cleaner air shelters and cleaner air spaces.
• Guidance for Administrators in Parks and Recreational Facilities
  Guidance for the use and administration of local, state, and national parks.

Cleaning, waste & rodents

Cleaning and disinfecting

• Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes
  This plan is part of the larger United States Government plan and focuses on cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and can also be applied to your home.
• Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities
  Guidance providing recommendations on the cleaning and disinfection of rooms or areas occupied by those with suspected or with confirmed COVID-19.
• Cleaning and Disinfection for Households
  Guidance providing recommendations on the cleaning and disinfection of households where persons under investigation (PUI) or those with confirmed COVID-19 reside or may be in self- isolation.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
  Guidance providing everyday steps to clean and disinfect, steps when someone is sick, and considerations for employers.
• List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2external icon
  Products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Read EPA’s infographic on how to use these disinfectant productsexternal icon safely and effectively.
• Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
  Document with additional information about recommended practices for terminal cleaning of rooms and PPE to be worn by environmental services personnel.

Solid waste and debris

• Laboratory Waste Management
  Handling laboratory waste from testing suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patient specimens.
• Environmental Infection Control
  Guidance on solid waste management in various settings.
• Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
  Contains information about recommended practices for terminal cleaning of rooms and PPE to be worn by environmental services personnel.

Rodent Control

• Rodent Control Programs
  Rodent activity is increasing in some jurisdictions. Rodent control and surveillance are critical for protecting public health during responses to natural disasters and public health emergency.

Food and Water Safety

Food Safety for Food Facilities

• What Grocery and Food Retail Workers Need to Know about COVID-19
  Information and resources on food safety and keeping restaurants, grocery stores, and other food facilities disinfected.
• Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers
  Interim Guidance from CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
• How to Prevent Food Poisoning
  Learn the most effective ways to help prevent food poisoning.
• Basic Food Safety
  Basic food safety and steps to prevent foodborne illnesses
• Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities
  Guidance providing recommendations on the cleaning and disinfection of rooms or areas occupied by those with suspected or with confirmed COVID-19.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
  Information on food safety and keeping restaurants, grocery stores, and other food facilities disinfected.
• Questions & Answers for Industryexternal icon
  FDA information that covers numerous topics related to COVID-19 and food safety.

Food Safety for Consumers

• Basic Food Safety
  Important information on handling delivered food safely and obtaining food from safe sources

Water Safety

• CDC’s Water and COVID-19 FAQs
  Addresses numerous water safety topics, including drinking water, wastewater, recreational water, disease transmission through water, and even wastewater worker safety.
• Guidance for Building Water Systems
  Ensure the safety of your occupants and building water system and devices.
• Considerations for Public Pools, Hot Tubs, and Water Playgrounds During COVID-19
  Considerations for the safety of those who operate, manage, and use public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds.

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather

• Hurricanes and COVID-19
  Know how the COVID-19 pandemic can affect hurricane preparedness and recovery, and what you can do to keep yourself and others safe.
• Public Disaster Shelter & COVID-19
  Important information on disaster shelters and COVID-19.
• Open Burning during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  Strategies to reduce smoke exposures from open burning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and resources can refer to when creating or adapting existing plans to manage open burning during the pandemic.

Air Quality

• Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19
  Know how wildfire smoke can affect you and your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic and what you can do to protect yourselves.
• Public Health Strategies to Reduce Exposure to Wildfire Smoke during the COVID-19 Pandemic
  Information about wildfire preparedness and response during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• COVID-19 and Seasonal Allergies FAQs
  COVID-19 and seasonal allergies share many symptoms, but because some of the symptoms are similar, it may be difficult to tell the difference between them, and you may need to get a test to confirm your diagnosis.