19 Mar ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO AND BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS URGE RESIDENTS TO COMPLETE THE U.S. CENSUS AMID THE CURRENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Published on March 19, 2020
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Freeholder President Brendan Gill and Vice President Wayne Richardson encourage all Essex County residents to complete the U.S. Census to ensure a complete and accurate population count is achieved in Essex. Completing the Census is important, even as the country is occupied with the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Census count is critically important to the disbursement of Federal funds and resources.
“While we know addressing the Coronavirus is the most important issue affecting us all and we are taking dramatic steps to avoid its spread, our residents should remember to take the time and complete the census. For the first time in history, people can avoid contact with a census taker at their home by responding online, over the phone in many different languages or through the mail. This allows everyone to continue to practice social distancing and complete the census,” DiVincenzo said. “This is very important because census data is not only used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives, but it also helps determine how government funding is distributed for hospitals, roadways and bridges, emergency response, schools and hospitals,” he added.
Residents are encouraged to respond online as soon as they receive the invitation with the provided instructions. If you misplace your census form, you can still fill out the census without the unique code listed on the form.
Some important dates to remember are:
- Through March 20:The U.S. Postal Service will deliver letters inviting residents to respond online and by phone. Instructions include the web address for the online questionnaire in English as well as where to respond online in 12 additional languages – ensuring over 99% of U.S. households can respond in their preferred language. Telephone assistance is available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. EDT for those who prefer to respond by phone.
- March 26 to April 3: Reminder postcards will be delivered to households that have not responded.
- April 8 to 16: Reminder letters and paper questionnaires will be delivered to remaining households that have not responded.
- April 20 to 27: Final reminder postcards will be delivered to households that have not yet responded.
For more information about the 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov.
For more information about the coronavirus (COVID-19), visit https://www.cdc.gov. It is also important for everyone to know the signs and practice prevention tips as those provided by the NJ Department of Health, which can be found at https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/INFOGRAPHIC-covid-19-quick_facts.pdf.
For more information on updates and travel, please visit:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
New Jersey Department of Health:
https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml
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