Rural Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

This guide will help you learn about activities underway to address COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Federal and state agencies, along with national organizations are sharing resources and guidelines to help all communities and healthcare facilities, including rural areas, respond to this issue.

See the Emergency Preparedness guide for communication planning tools to reach rural communities.

Rural COVID-19 Trends

COVID-19 County Reports
RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
Current data on COVID-19 cases for metropolitan and nonmetro counties, as well as a collection of data briefs showing trends in COVID-19 cases over time.

Rural COVID Research and Figures
North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
A collection of reports and visualizations examining the impact of COVID-19 on rural areas, including rural hospital and community vulnerability, hot spots, and more.

Key Federal Sites for COVID-19 Information

CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The latest information, guidelines, and resources from the CDC on the novel coronavirus outbreak. Information for healthcare facilities and providers, health departments, communities, and other specific audiences. Includes free communication resources for distribution.

Coronavirus.gov
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force at the White House
Information for the public, including resources targeted to households and people who may be sick.

USA.gov: Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19
An overview of federal government activities in response to COVID-19

Additional Federal Resources

ACL: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Administration on Community Living
COVID-19 information and resources focused on older adults and people with disabilities.

AHRQ COVID-19 Resources
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Information and resources on healthcare quality issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Addresses practice improvement, health systems research, and data and analytics.

CDC: Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Calls/Webinars
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Presentations on key emergency preparedness and response topics by subject matter experts, with many current and upcoming calls focusing on COVID-19. For announcements of upcoming calls, subscribe to the COCA email list.

CMS: Current Emergencies: Coronavirus Disease 2019
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Guidance from CMS for healthcare facilities and labs related to COVID-19. Includes clinical and technical guidance on infection control and prevention for specific types of facilities, information on billing and coding, coverage for services related to COVID-19, and other topics.

CRS: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Congressional Research Service
A list of published research products the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has prepared for Congress related to COVID-19. Includes a sections focused on public health topics, legislation, and other issues.

EMS.gov: Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of EMS
Resources to help emergency medical services (EMS) personnel appropriately and safely serve communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addresses EMS workforce protection, patient care, crisis planning, and more.

FDA: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Food and Drug Administration
Information and guidance from the FDA related to COVID-19. Includes information on diagnostics, personal protective equipment, and therapeutics. Also covers FDA monitoring of products with fraudulent COVID-19 claims.

FEMA: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Information and resources on how FEMA is assisting state, local, tribal, and territorial governments related to the Nationwide Emergency Declaration for COVID-19. Includes best practices section where communities can share their experiences and learn from others.

FORHP: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Information and resources for Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) rural health program grant recipients and stakeholders related to COVID-19 and its impact on rural health programs and rural communities. Addresses funding, telehealth, healthcare delivery, grant-related travel, and grants management.

HRSA: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Health Resources and Services Administration
Information on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting HRSA programs. Addresses a wide range of concerns for the various programs HRSA supports, including information on policies, funding, and more.

HRSA Health Center Program: COVID-19 Information for Health Centers and Partners
Bureau of Primary Health Care
Information for health centers regarding how to prepare for and respond to an outbreak of COVID-19. Includes funding, resources, and information to help health centers meet the needs of their patients, including special populations they serve.

IHS: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Indian Health Service
Information on the federal response to COVID-19 in Indian Country. Addresses testing, access to personal protective equipment, funding, emergency planning, and service delivery.

NIEHS: COVID-19 Safety Training
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Health and safety resources for workers who may be at risk of exposure to COVID-19. Training resources will continue to be updated as the situation evolves.

SAMHSA: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Guidance and resources to help providers respond to COVID-19 while providing care and treatment of mental and substance use disorders. Includes guidance specific to opioid treatment programs.

USDA Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Provides information on COVID-19 related to food safety, pet safety, and food access, as well as highlighting USDA actions in response to COVID-19.

USDA Rural Development COVID-19 Response
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
Find the latest information on USDA Rural Development loan payment assistance, application deadline extensions, and other USDA Rural Development actions to help rural residents, businesses, and communities impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

VA: Public Health: Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Provides information on VA’s public health response to COVID-19. Includes VA tracking of veteran patients with positive test results for COVID-19 or a presumptive COVID-19 diagnosis. Describes how VA is responding to protect and care for veterans who receive healthcare from VA.

State and National Initiatives and Resources

AAFP: Respond to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
American Academy of Family Physicians
Clinical management, patient education, and preparedness resources to help family physicians respond to COVID-19. Includes updates on payment and telehealth.

ACEP: COVID-19
American College of Emergency Physicians
Information to assist with patient care during the response to COVID-19. Addresses clinical assessment and management, testing, emergency department issues, EMS issues, and more.

ACOG: COVID-19
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Provides resources and guidance on the treatment of pregnant patients related to COVID-19. Addresses clinical information, practice management, and more.

ACS: COVID-19 and Surgery
American College of Surgeons
Resources for the surgical community related to the response to COVID-19. Covers clinical issues and guidance, personal protective equipment, regulatory updates, and more.

ADA Coronavirus Center for Dentists
American Dental Association
Tools and resources to help dentists respond to COVID-19. Includes information, news, and guidance related to infection control, dental workforce safety, and practice management.

AHA: Updates and Resources on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
American Hospital Association
Resources for hospitals and health systems to help them respond to COVID-19. Includes news from AHA on the latest developments.

AMA: COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus) Resource Center for Physicians
American Medical Association
Tools and resources to help physicians respond to COVID-19, including information on prevention diagnosis, and treatment.

ASHP: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
Resources to help pharmacists respond to COVID-19. Includes information on treatment options, including off-label treatment considerations.

ASTHO: COVID-19
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
Public health resources and information addressing COVID-19 issues. Includes state and territorial COVID-19 emergency declarations, elective medical procedure guidance, and testing prioritization guidance.

CCHP: Telehealth Coverage Policies in the Time of COVID-19
Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
Summary of telehealth services that are covered by various public and private payers related to COVID-19. Includes information on state and federal actions. Updated with new information and new policies as the situation develops.

EDEN: Current Situation: COVID-19
Extension Disaster Education Network
Resources to help extension educators address COVID-19 concerns in their communities. Includes courses, publications, videos, and more.

KFF: State Data and Policy Actions to Address Coronavirus
Kaiser Family Foundation
State-by-state information on COVID-19 cases and state policy actions, including emergency declarations, cost sharing for testing and treatment, and other actions. Also provides related state-level data on at-risk populations, healthcare provider capacity, influenza and pneumonia deaths, and more.

NACCHO: Our Response Efforts Around COVID-19
National Association of County and City Health Officials
Identifies resources and best practices for local health departments responding to COVID-19. Also provides access to county-level data related to the impact of COVID-19, including case counts, hospital bed counts, health insurance coverage, and more.

NACHC: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources for Community Health Centers
National Association of Community Health Centers
Updates, resources, and information to help community health centers respond to COVID-19. Lists webinars, provider resources, regulatory guidance, and more.

NACo: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): County Response Efforts & Priorities
National Association of Counties
Resources and information to help counties and the hospitals and public health departments they support.

NAM: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) News and Resources from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Access to National Academies reports, virtual events, and resources focused on COVID-19. Covers COVID-19 spread and treatment, as well as related issues such as clinician well-being, crisis standards of care, and transportation impacts.

NASHP: COVID-19 State Action Center
National Academy for State Health Policy
Examples of how states are responding to COVID-19 with initiatives addressing capacity, health services delivery, health insurance coverage, data collection, and other issues.

NCSL Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for States
National Conference of State Legislatures
Resources for state legislators and staff on response to COVID-19. Includes information on state and federal actions, as well as state quarantine and isolation statutes.

NGA: Coronavirus: What You Need To Know
National Governors Association
An overview of federal and state actions to address COVID-19, as well as links to state government pages from each state focused on coronavirus.

NOSORH: State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) COVID-19 Response
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
Updates from weekly listening sessions with the fifty State Offices of Rural Health to identify the rural health challenges and opportunities related to COVID-19. Also includes resources useful in the COVID-19 response.

NRHA: COVID-19 Resources
National Rural Health Association
Information and resources to help rural communities and healthcare providers address and respond to COVID-19. Includes links to state resources.

SHRM: Coronavirus and COVID-19
Society for Human Resource Management
Guidance for employers related to worker and customer health and safety, working from home, and issues related to COVID-19. Includes information on federal policy changes that impact HR.