As the Coronavirus continues to disrupt the daily lives of people around the globe, the U.S. Census Bureau is looking to measure its impact, officials announced this week.
The Census Bureau launched two new experimental “pulse” surveys to collect important data over the next three months to see how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting small businesses and households across the nation. The experimental surveys are short in duration and will produce statistics at a state level and for the 15 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas to assist in post-pandemic recovery.
The Household Pulse Survey is meant to “document temporal trends” in how people are experiencing business closures, stay-at-home orders and school closures and “other abrupt and significant changes to American life,” according to a statement released by the Census Bureau on Tuesday.
The questionnaire includes a question for veterans, asking about health insurance received through TRICARE, other military healthcare and registration with Veterans Administration healthcare.
The survey asks about employment status, spending patterns, food security, housing, physical and mental health, access to health care, and changes in educational routine. The effort is a collaboration between the U.S. Census Bureau and the USDA Economic Research Service, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Health Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Each week, the Small Business Pulse Survey will be sent to more than 100,000 businesses with under 500 employees. Some 1 million businesses are expected to receive the survey over the next nine weeks. The data will then be posted every week starting in mid-May.
There are some 2.4 million veteran-owned businesses in the U.S. who employ 5.8 million people, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs granted emergency approval on Sunday for the Census Bureau to begin conducting the pulse surveys.
The bureau is halfway through its regular 2020 Census count and has extended the deadline to the end of October for people to respond. This is the first year the census can be completed online.
Author: Jared Morgan
Jared is the senior editor and web team lead for the Department of California and chair of its Media & Communications Commission. He became a member of the American Legion in 2014 when he joined Palisades Post 283 to find stories about veterans issues for a local newspaper while working as its news editor. He was soon brought in as 283's assistant adjutant and historian to help produce the post's award-winning community newspaper. Since then, Jared has used his media skills to help further the efforts of The American Legion in its advocacy of veterans and their families. Jared has also worked for several years to help revitalize the 100-year-old Santa Monica Post 123, formerly as its adjutant and as a member of its executive board, before transferring back to Post 283.
