The survey will address the proper response to help the city's vulnerable communities.
Starting Monday, June 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will survey residents in Prince William County as part of their coronavirus response. The affected zip codes are 20109, 20110, and 20111, all of which have experienced rising cases in the last month.
The survey is completely voluntary, and no personal information will be collected. It will be conducted door-to-door by a CDC team, and many will communicate in Spanish due to the city's large Latino population.
Residents will respond to about 30 questions focused on health care and the coronavirus, which the CDC and state officials will use to formulate an effective approach in assisting the community's needs. They will also make phone calls to seek information on people who have tested positive before.
Virginia's Latino and Hispanic communities have been disproportionately hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite making up 10 percent of the state's residents, they account for 45 percent of positive cases and 35 percent of total hospitalizations. These concerning statistics have been addressed by the local government in their "Forward Virginia" reopening plan. Outreach efforts have covered the distribution of informative pamphlets and locating free testing centers in affected neighborhoods.
Last Thursday, Governor Ralph Northam announced phase three of the state's reopening, which would lift restrictions on restaurants and retail and approve gatherings of up to 250 people. No set date has been given on when these would take effect. As of June 22, the state has recorded 58,465 cases.
Virginia residents, what do you think of the CDC's survey? Has the state effectively handled the pandemic? Sound off in the comments!