COVID-19 POLICY AND GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS

Archived Page

For NGA COVID-19 material please visit https://www.nga.org/coronavirus/

Vaccines

Funding

Coronavirus Relief Fund Eligibility Items

FEMA Guidance – COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Resources by Topic

Emergency supplemental funding package signed – Text | Summary

FFIS budget brief on the emergency supplemental funding package (account required)

NGA letter on emergency supplemental funding package

NGA statement on emergency supplemental funding

White House funding request   

Funding transfers within the Department of Health and Human Services

State and local public health leaders’ emergency supplemental funding request 

FEMA Coronavirus Pandemic: Eligible Emergency Protective Measures Fact Sheet

HHS Awards $80 Million in Funding to Sovereign Tribal Nations

COVID-19 HHS Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards TAGGS Site

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released information on the immediate infusion of $30 billion payments to health care providers from the $100 billion in the CARES Act. The release includes information on who is eligible, how payments are being distributed, and what providers need to do. This release provides limited information on the additional $70 billion.

Pathway to Reopening

Testing

NGA Memo: Capacity for COVID-19 Testing — Current Status and Considerations

FDA FAQs on Diagnostic Testing for SARS-CoV-2

CDC Information for Laboratories

CDC COVIDView: A Weekly Surveillance Summary of U.S COVID-19 Activity

The COVID Tracking Project

WHO Laboratory Testing for 2019-nCoV in Suspected Human Cases

ASTHO 16 Key Considerations for Drive-Through or Mobile Testing

Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy Testing Roadmap

Additional and Archived Material

Planning & Preparedness 

NGA Memo: Key Steps And Considerations For Building A COVID-19 Contact Tracing Workforce

NGA Memo: Planning For Concurrent Emergencies

NGA Memo: Update On COVID-19 Treatment Development (28 May 2020)

NGA Memo: Capacity For COVID-19 Testing — Current Status And Considerations

NGA Memo: Implementing Effective Social Distancing Policies To Mitigate Spread Of COVID-19

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather, and COVID-19

CDC Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities

CDC: How to Protect Yourself & Others

CDC Pandemic Preparedness Resources

CDC Resources for State, Local, Territorial and Tribal Health Departments

ASPR Select State Health Department Pandemic Influenza Plans 

NGA Governor’s Guide to Public Health Preparedness

NASCIO COVID-19 Planning and Response Guidance for State CIOs

Additional and Archived Material

Legal

NGA Memo: Resources for tracking COVID-19 and assessing state authorities

NCSL State Quarantine and Isolation Statutes

The Network for Public Health Law Emergency Legal Preparedness on Coronavirus

The Network for Public Health Law Table on Legal Liability Protections for Emergency Medical/Public Health Responses  

The Policy Surveillance Program: State Emergency Suspension Powers

NEMA Webinar on Non-Traditional Authorities in COVID-19 Response

Additional and Archived Material

Critical Infrastructure

Overall

Energy

Transportation

Water

Broadband

Operational Coordination

NGA Memo: The Defense Production Act & Executive Action Taken In Response To COVID-19

NGA Memo: Operational Coordination For COVID-19 Response And Recovery

NGA Memo: Gubernatorial Considerations For Continuity Of Operations Plan (COOP) Implementation

NGA Memo: Resources For Tracking The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) And Assessing State Authorities

FEMA Support to the Coronavirus Response Fact Sheet

Department of Defense Directive 3025.18: Defense Support to Civil Authorities  

Identifying Critical Infrastructure During Covid-19

Additional and Archived Material

Communications

NGA Crisis Communications Toolkit (account required; email NGA staff if you require a login)

NGA Memo: Countering Mis- And Disinformation Amid COVID-19

CDC Communication Resources

CDC Interim Guidance: Public Health Communicators Get Your Community Ready

CDC Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication

NGA Crisis Communications Webinar on Coronavirus  

ASTHO Addressing Communication Challenges During an Infectious Disease Emergency Response: State Experiences from the H1N1 Pandemic

ASTHO COVID-19: Simple Answers to Top Ten Questions – Risk Communication Guide 

C-Span Archive of Governor Coronavirus Briefings

Frameworks Institute: Framing COVID-19

CDC COVID-19 PSA webpage

Supply Chain And Health System Readiness

NGA Memo: Strategies To Address The Need For Personal Protective Equipment As States Gradually Reopen

NGA Memo: Governor Considerations Regarding Crisis Standards Of Care

NGA Memo: Gubernatorial Strategies For Health Care Workforce And Facility Capacity

NGA Memo: Gubernatorial Actions to Support Medical Surge Capacity

NGA Memo: Gubernatorial Actions to Address PPE and Ventilator Shortages

NGA Memo: The Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Response to COVID-19

NGA Memo: Gubernatorial Strategies for Telehealth 

NGA Memo: Overview of Section 1135 and Section 1115 Waivers

CDC Interim Guidance for Health Care Facilities

CDC Personal Protective Equipment Burn Rate Calculator

ASTHO PPE Shortages: Considerations for Donation Management and Homemade Equipment

FEMA Best Practices: Preserving Personal Protective Equipment

FEMA Fact Sheet: Addressing PPE Needs in Non-Healthcare Setting

FDA Coronavirus Update: FDA Takes Further Steps to Mitigate Supply Interruptions

CRS Defense Production Act and the COVID-19 Pandemic

ASPR COVID-19 Alternative Care Site Resources  

Manatt HHS Issues COVID-19 HIPAA Waivers

HHS Secretary Azar Letter to Governors Regarding Health Care Workforce (with enclosed guidance to states)

HHS Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth During COVID-19

George Washington University State Health Workforce Estimator

Federation of State Medical Boards State Action Tracker

Special Considerations For Vulnerable Populations

NGA Memo: Opioid And COVID-19 Related Resources

NGA Memo: Strategies To Address Social Isolation And Loneliness During COVID-19

NGA Memo: Reducing The Disproportionate Impact Of COVID-19 Among Communities Of Color

NGA Memo: State Strategies To Support Access To Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services Through The COVID-19 Pandemic

Considerations for Inpatient Obstetric Healthcare Settings  

SAMHSA COVID-19 Guidance for Opioid Treatment Programs 

SAMHSA Guidance on COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Response and 42 CFR Part 2

SAMHSA Opioid Treatment Program Guidance

NIDA COVID-19: Potential Implications for Individuals with Substance Use Disorders

KFF COVID-19: Special Considerations for Pregnant Women

KFF Telemedicine and Pregnancy Care

CDC Considerations for Inpatient Obstetric Healthcare Settings  

CDC How to Care for Someone at Home

CDC COVID-19: What People Living with HIV Should Know

CDC COVID-19: People Who Are at Higher Risk for Severe Illness

CDC Interim Guidance for Responding to COVID-19 among People Experiencing Unsheltered Homelessness

CDC Interim Guidance on Management of COVID-19 in Correctional and Detention Facilities

CDC Resources for Correctional and Detention Facilities

CDC Tips for Talking with Children about COVID-19

CDC People with Disabilities

Long Term Care

NGA Memo: Strategies For COVID-19 Response For Populations Receiving Long-Term Care

NGA Memo: COVID-19 Testing In Long-Term Care Facilities

NGA Strategies for COVID-19 Response for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

CMS Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating Updates, Nursing Home Staff Counts, and Frequently Asked Questions 

CMS New Nursing Home Requirements for Notification of Confirmed COVID-19 Among Residents and Staff

CMS 2019 Novel Coronavirus Long-Term Care Facility Transfer Scenarios

CMS COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance

CMS Long-Term Care Nursing Homes Telehealth and Telemedicine Toolkit

CMS Announces Findings at Kirkland Nursing Home and New Targeted Plan for Healthcare Facility Inspections in light of COVID-19

CMS Prioritization of Survey Activities 

CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Nursing Homes

CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Home Health Agencies 

CMS Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 by Hospice Agencies 

CMS Guidance for PACE Organizations Regarding Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019

Additional and Archived Material

Health Insurance

CMS Medicaid and CHIP Disaster Response Toolkit

CMS Inventory of Medicaid and CHIP Flexibilities and Authorities in the Event of a Disaster

CMS Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Fact Sheet

CMS Individual and Small Group Market Insurance Coverage

CMS Medicare Fact Sheet

Statement by the AHIP Board of Directors: Taking Action to Address COVID-19

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies Steps to Expand Access to Coronavirus Care

MACPAC Medicaid’s Role in Disasters and Public Health Emergencies

CMS Frequently Asked Questions to Ensure Individuals, Issuers and States have Clear Information on Coverage Benefits for COVID-19 

CMS COVID-19 FAQs for State Medicaid and CHIP Agencies 

CMS COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet 

CMS COVID-19 Partner Toolkit

CMS Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet

CMS State Plan Fee-for-Service Payments for Services Delivered Via Telehealth

OIG Guidance on Waiving Telehealth Cost-Sharing During COVID-19 Outbreak

CMS FAQs on Catastrophic Plan Coverage and the COVID-19

CMS 1115 Waiver Opportunity and Application Checklist

CMS 1135 Waiver Checklist

CMS 1915(c) Appendix K Template

CMS Medicaid Disaster State Plan Amendment Template

CMS FAQ on Increased FMAP in Families First Coronavirus Response Act

CMS FAQs About Families First Coronavirus Response Act And Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security Act Implementation Part 42

Human Services

NGA Memo: State & Territory Policy Strategies Supporting Maternal & Child Health During COVID-19

NGA Memo on State Human Services Actions & Initiatives For COVID-19

NGA Memo: Addressing Child Abuse Reporting And Supporting Child Well-Being During COVID-19

NGA Memo on Steps to Address Food and Financial Insecurity for Individuals and Families in Response to COVID-19

2020 CARES Act CCDBG Supplemental Funding Allocations for States and Territories

USDA – FNS Program Guidance on Human Pandemic Response

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Recommendations for State TANF Agencies

FRAC Guide to the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)

ACF Memorandum on the Child Care and Development Fund Program 

ACF Frequently Asked Questions Related to COVID-19 

ACF Grant Flexibilities in Conducting Human Service Activities Related to or Affected by COVID-19

ACF OCC Flexibility in Spending CCDF Funds in Response to Federal or State Declared Emergency Situations

HHS ACF Office of Family Assistance guidance on TANF flexibility under COVID-19 emergency   

HHS ACF COVID – 19 resources 

Medicaid Disaster Response Tool Kit 

HHS Administration for Community Living (ACL) Announces $250 million in Grants to States to Provide Meals for Older Adults 

Coronavirus: What Child Welfare Systems Need to Think About  

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) COVID-19 Resources for Social Workers  

Coronavirus Resources and Tips for Parents and Caregivers (Prevent Child Abuse America)  

A message from the Children’s Bureau on COVID-19 

Additional and Archived Material

Housing

HUD FHA Foreclosure and Eviction Moratorium

HUD Dear Lender Letter on evictions and foreclosures 

HUD Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease for People Experiencing Homelessness  

HUD Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease within Shelters  

HUD Preventing and Managing the Spread of Infectious Disease within Encampments 

HUD COVID-19 FAQs for the Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Native American Programs 

CDC Interim Guidance for Homeless Service Providers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19 

Economic Development And Employers

NGA Memo: The Road Ahead: A Summary Of State Economic Recovery Agendas

NGA Memo: State Initiatives For Small Business Recovery During The COVID-19 Pandemic Economic Crisis

NGA Memo: Economic Recovery Planning & Resources to Support Businesses and Local Communities

NGA Memo: Solutions For Rural Economies In Response To COVID-19

NGA Summary: State Commerce/Economic Development Actions & Initiatives For COVID-19

U.S. Department of the Treasury CARES Act web portal, including “Assistance for Small Businesses”  

Federal Reserve System actions to support the economy  

U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program  

U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program 

U.S. Department of Agriculture COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide  

U.S. Department of Labor Short-Time Compensation Program  

Policy Brief: Supporting People and Companies to Deal with the COVID-19 Virus

Entrepreneurship – Rebuilding Better:  Start Us Up’s COVID-19 Response Plan

Additional and Archived Material

Workforce And Labor

NGA Memo: State Workforce Development System Partnership With Vocational Rehabilitation Services To Address The Needs Of People With Disabilities Impacted By COVID-19

NGA Memo: Understanding & Supporting The On-Demand Workforce

NGA Memo on State Strategies To Leverage RESEA In Response To COVID-19

NGA Memo on State Strategies To Transition Dislocated And Incumbent Workers Into High-Demand Industries

NGA Memo on Delivering Workforce System Employment And Training Services Remotely

NGA Memo on Information And Guidance On Supporting On-Demand Workers Through The COVID-19 Crisis

NGA Summary of Pertinent Workforce Development Provisions in the CARES Act

NGA Memo on Short-Time Compensation Programs and COVID-19

NGA Memo on Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19

NGA Memo on Steps to Address Food and Financial Insecurity for Individuals and Families in Response to COVID-19

NGA Memo on Adjustments to Work-Based Learning in Response to COVID-19

USDOL COVID-19 Resources for Workers and Employers 

USDOL Guidance on Flexibilities in Regular UI/UC 

USDOL Summary and Guidance on CARES Act UI Provisions 

Department of Labor Unemployment Letter on Unemployment Compensation for Individuals Affected by the Coronavirus

U.S. Department of Labor Resources to Help Workers and Employers

DHS Guidance on Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce

US DOL Guidance on Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Additional and Archived Material

Schools and Childcare

NGA Memo: Child Care For School-Aged Children

NGA Memo: School Nutrition And Meals Programs During K-12 School Reopening

NGA Memo: Child Care Reopening And Recovery

NGA Memo: Summer Camps And Summer Learning Opportunities

NGA Memo: Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund Summary

Childcare.gov State-Level Info for Essential Workers Seeking Child Care

Child Care Covid-19 Resources from ACF Office of Child Care

ACF Guidance on Temporarily Repurposing Head Start and Early Head Start Centers 

ACF New information Memorandum on the CARES Act for Child Care

CDC Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist 

CDC Children and COVID-19: Tips to Keep Children Health While School’s Out 

Department of Education Coronavirus Resources for Schools and Institutes of Higher Education

Child Trends State Laws that Address School Response to Pandemics  

USDA Proactive Flexibility to Feed Children When Schools Close 

USDA Memo on Child Nutrition Program Meal Service during Novel Coronavirus Outbreaks 

Additional and Archived Material

Postsecondary Education

NGA Memo: K-12 To Postsecondary Transitions During COVID-19: Opportunities For Governors And States

NGA Memo: Reopening Institutions Of Higher Education

NGA Summary of Pertinent Higher Education Provisions in the CARES Act

NGA Memo on Governors Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund Summary

NGA Memo on Postsecondary Strategies for COVID-19   

NGA Memo on Dual Credit in the Time of COVID-19

NGA Memo on Supporting K-12 and Postsecondary Virtual Learning Environments

NGA Memo on Adjustments to Work-Based Learning in Response to COVID-19

NCSL Higher Education Responses to Coronavirus

CDC Resources for Institutes of Higher Education

Census Bureau Statement on Modifying 2020 Census Operations to Make Sure College Students are Counted

CARES Act Higher Education Institution Allocations

SHEEO COVID-19 Resource page

Additional and Archived Material

Public Safety

NGA Memo: Protests, Policing, And COVID-19

NGA Memo: Prevention Of Targeted Violence And Terrorism Against Public Health Personnel And Assets

NGA Memo: Cybersecurity Concerns For Health And Public Health Organizations

NGA Memo: COVID-19 And Cybersecurity

NGA Memo: State Tolling of Statutes of Limitations and Interstate Extraditions During COVID-19

NGA Memo: Law Enforcement and Stay-at-Home Orders

NGA Memo: COVID-19 Responses in the Juvenile Justice System

NGA Memo: Early Release from Incarceration in Response to COVID-19

CDC What Law Enforcement Personnel Need to Know

Elections

NGA Memo: Policy Scan Of States Driver’s License Rules Ahead Of The Election

NGA Memo: COVID-19 Health And Safety Measures For Elections

CDC: Considerations for Election Polling Locations and Voters

Election Assistance Commission: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

NASS Issue Briefing: Election Emergencies & COVID-19

Contact Us

  • Lauren Stienstra, Homeland Security and Public Safety Division (lstienstra@nga.org; 202- 624-7872)
  • Maribel Ramos, Government Relations (mramos@nga.org; 202-624-5378)

<- Return to Coronavirus: What You Need to Know

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This page includes memoranda, resources, trackers, and other materials developed by the National Governors Association (NGA) to assist governors and state governments with COVID-19 response efforts. These materials are intended to provide information that is currently in the public domain and is not intended to be used as a source for legal or professional advice. NGA and its governing bodies, officers, and employees assume no responsibility for information contained on this webpage and disclaim all civil or criminal liability in respect of such information. NGA makes no endorsements or recommendations of information provided, and visitors to this website should always seek the advice of an appropriately qualified professional pertaining to specific material references. Information contained in such materials is not exhaustive and may be changed or updated at any time. Specific disclaimers may apply in addition to certain content or parts of this webpage.