Updated April 16, 2020
2020 Census Fieldwork Delayed by COVID-19
Introduction
for the “peak data collection’” phase of the census. Part of
In a March 18, 2020, press release (CB20-RTQ.08), U.S.
the preparations involve “selecting and hiring field staff.”
Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced that
The operations were to have begun on March 1 but have
the bureau was suspending all 2020 census field operations
been postponed until June 1. The bureau’s 2020 census
until April 1. This action, a response to the novel
recruitment site (2020census.gov/jobs) has posted, under a
coronavirus disease first observed in 2019 (COVID-19) and
COVID-19 banner, a notice that the bureau “continues to
designated a pandemic by the World Health Organization
accept applications for temporary part-time” census
on March 11, 2020, came at a critical time for the census.
positions. “Applicants who have been offered” jobs “are
Although April 1 was the official Census Day, early data
still selected” for these positions and can continue checking
collection began in remote Toksook Bay, Alaska, on
the site for “additional information on how and when” they
January 21. Other tightly timed field operations were
will be trained.
underway or imminent, including the bureau’s personal
outreach to hard-to-count areas and groups. In-person visits
The Initial Response Phase
to nonresponding households, originally set for mid-May,
Invitations to answer the census were mailed to about 95%
were delayed by two weeks. Dr. Dillingham stated on
of U.S. households from March 12 to March 20, 2020. By
March 18 that if “additional adjustments” became
April 13, more than 48% of the households had responded,
necessary, the bureau would communicate them “broadly
according to Census Bureau press release CB20-RTQ.16.
and promptly.”
The bureau, before the pandemic, had strongly encouraged
online responses as the fastest, easiest, most accurate way
A subsequent press release on the topic, dated March 28,
to complete the census, and lately is promoting the internet
2020 (CB20-RTQ.14), announced an extended suspension
for these advantages, plus no associated risk of contracting
of field operations, until April 15. The release did not
COVID-19. In addition, the bureau is accepting completed
present another revised schedule for the individual
paper questionnaires by mail and responses by telephone.
operations, but noted that the bureau continued “to
This initial phase of the census, in which households are
evaluate” them and would “communicate any further
encouraged to respond soon after receiving their invitations,
updates as soon as possible.”
was to continue from March 12 to July 31. The adjusted
schedule extends the initial phase until October 31.
The latest communication (CB20-RTQ.16) and
accompanying schedule, issued on April 13, 2020, indicated
Remote Alaska
that the bureau would delay release of the 2020 state census
The operation that began in Toksook Bay on January 21
counts for apportioning seats in the U.S. House of
was to end on April 30. It will be completed “mostly” on
Representatives and the data for within-state redistricting
schedule, the bureau has reported, “though some areas with
past the respective December 31, 2020, and March 31,
year-round populations will be enumerated when it is safe
2021, legal deadlines for these products (see Title 13, U.S.
to do so.”
Code, Section 141 (b) and (c)). The bureau gave three
reasons for rescheduling: to “protect the health and safety
Update Enumerate
of the American public and Census Bureau employees”; to
During Update Enumerate, enumerators are to update the
“implement guidance from federal, state, and local
addresses of, and interview in person, about 2,000
authorities regarding COVID-19”; and to “ensure a
households in remote areas of northern Maine and southeast
complete and accurate count of all communities.”
Alaska. The operation began on March 16 and was to end
on April 30. It has been suspended until June 14 and is to
This In Focus notes the various major components of the
end on July 29. The bureau, to protect both census takers
bureau’s 2020 census fieldwork, with their original and, as
and respondents from COVID-19, has directed that
of April 13, 2020, latest schedules. The In Focus will be
enumerators conduct interviews outside homes, at least six
updated to reflect any additional developments.
feet away from respondents.
The Original Operational Schedule and
Update Leave
April 13, 2020, Revision
Another operation, Update Leave, covers not quite 5% of
households, located where residents are unlikely to receive
Field Office Operations
mail at their homes. Examples include across Puerto Rico
Census Bureau managers and staff at 2020 census field
and in other areas that have recently experienced natural
offices are to conduct, according to the bureau,
disasters. Enumerators update the addresses of these
“administrative, training, deployment, and support activities
households for the bureau’s master address file and drop off
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2020 Census Fieldwork Delayed by COVID-19
paper census forms, invitations, and instructions for those
in the bureau’s assessment, “needs further review and
who choose to answer the census online, with telephone
coordination with outside partners and stakeholders.”
assistance if requested. Originally scheduled for March 15
to April 17 in the 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC),
Count of People at Transitory Locations
and Puerto Rico, the operation has been delayed and reset
From April 9 to May 4, census takers were to enumerate
to begin on June 13 and end on July 9 in the states and DC.
people staying at campgrounds, recreational vehicle parks,
The Puerto Rican operation “needs further review and
hotels, and marinas, if they did not usually live elsewhere.
coordination with outside partners and stakeholders,” the
The operation has been rescheduled tentatively to begin on
bureau has noted.
September 3 and end on September 28, but, according to
the bureau, “may need further review and coordination.”
Mobile Questionnaire Assistance
The plan for Mobile Questionnaire Assistance is to have
Count of Homeless People Outdoors
bureau staff help the public answer the census online at
On April 1, enumerators were to count homeless people
places frequented by large numbers of people, such as
living outdoors in locations where they are known to sleep,
community centers and grocery stores. The operation was
including under bridges and highway overpasses, in parks,
to occur from March 30 to July 31. Currently suspended, it
at rest stops, and at businesses that stay open all night. The
needs, according to the bureau, “further review and
bureau has reported that the operation now “needs further
coordination with outside partners and stakeholders.”
review and coordination with outside partners and
stakeholders.”
Early Nonresponse Follow-Up
The purpose of this operation is to contact off-campus
The Data for Apportionment
households around colleges and universities that have not
Under Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 141 (b), the 2020 state
answered the census and reach students there before they
census counts for House apportionment must be delivered
depart for the summer or graduate. The bureau’s latest
to the President no later than December 31, 2020. The
revised fieldwork schedule does not mention this operation,
fieldwork and myriad other operations that support the
which originally was to begin on April 9 and end on July
census, resulting in the state apportionment counts and
31.
corresponding numbers of House seats allocated to the
individual states, are timed to allow for their completion,
Nonresponse Follow-Up
including final checks, before the legal deadline.
The major follow-up effort, in which enumerators across
the nation are to visit nonrespondents and collect their
The bureau has summarized what generally happens after
census data in person, is considered essential for achieving
the end of census data collection: “Census Bureau experts
a complete, accurate census. The operation was originally
run and review output from programs” to remove duplicate
scheduled for May 13 to July 31. The start has been delayed
census responses, “determine final housing unit status,
to August 11 and the end until October 31.
populate any missing housing unit data on household size,
and finalize the universe to be included in the
Group Quarters: Campus Housing for Students
apportionment count file.” This process, which originally
Students living on campus are to be counted through their
was to occur from July 31 to December 31, is now
colleges and universities as part of the bureau’s Group
scheduled to start on October 31, 2020, and end on April
Quarters enumeration. Alternatively, students can answer
30, 2021, four months past the legal deadline.
the census online or on paper forms delivered at campus
housing and picked up there. Students who have left
The Data for Within-State Redistricting
campus housing, are staying elsewhere because of the
Title 13, U.S. Code, Section 141 (c), requires that the
COVID-19 situation, and intend to return to school still are
bureau, by April 1, 2021, deliver to the states tabulations of
to report this housing as where they live—that is, their
census data for use in redrawing state congressional and
usual residence.
legislative districts. Delivery now is scheduled for no later
than July 31, 2021, four months after the statutory deadline.
Other Group Quarters: Nursing Homes, Prisons,
A legislative remedy for the delays in providing the
and Other Institutional Facilities
redistricting, as well as the apportionment, data remains to
Census takers, in cooperation with the facilities’
be announced.
administrators, are to enumerate these residents at the
facilities. Online responses are another option. The in-

person operation was to begin on April 2 and end on June 5.
The revised schedule is July 1 to September 3, and the

bureau has asked administrators to choose options for
enumeration that will reduce direct personal contact.

Service-Based Enumeration
Jennifer D. Williams, Specialist in American National
In this operation, enumerators are to work with service
Government
providers to count homeless people at soup kitchens,
shelters, and food vans that make scheduled stops.
IF11486
Originally set for March 30 to April 1, the operation now,


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2020 Census Fieldwork Delayed by COVID-19


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