Rome News-Tribune

Despite virus fears, census continues

... as does its importance to communitie­s ♦ While there are no census takers it has “never been easier to respond on your own.”

- By Olivia Morley Omorley@rn-t.com

While businesses and schools shut down and people begin to work at home because of social distancing precaution­s — the U.S. Census is still on, still very easy to fill out and still incredibly important to communitie­s.

“We definitely don’t want folks to forget about it or neglect to do it in the midst of all of this,” Mandy Maloney said.

Maloney is a partnershi­p specialist for the Atlanta Regional Census Center who’s been working with Floyd

County’s Complete Count Committee.

Local residents began receiving census notices and invitation­s on March 12, which went over all the different ways people can respond.

There are several ways people can participat­e in the census without having to interact face to face with a census worker. Floyd County residents can call, mail or go online to respond to the census.

The count is very important for many reasons, including federal funding for different programs, such as Medicaid and congressio­nal representa­tion.

Maloney said that one of entities whose funding is impacted by the census is emergency preparedne­ss.

“This is one of those situations

Instructio­ns on how residents can respond to the 2020 U.S. Census went out last week and include how to fill out the census online. that’s good to talk about for the area where they live why you should participat­e and sleep most of the year. in the census,” she said. As of Wednesday, the data

The invitation­s being sent completion date for the 2020 out through Friday include census is July 31. However, instructio­ns for filling out Maloney said that could the census online and inchange as the novel coronaviru­s clude phone numbers to call situation evolves. for questions in 12 different Census Day is April 1. Those language. who don’t respond to the cen

Despite local colleges sus will receive new notices switching to online learning beginning as early as April 9 and evacuating their dorms and, eventually, a home visit. to prevent the spread of COVID-19 The Facebook page Count — Maloney said it’s Floyd County will be posting important for college residents updates and reminders to fill out the census for local residents.

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Jeremy Stewart

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