Environmental Health Practitioners

Updated June 16, 2020

On This Page

This webpage provides information for environmental health practitioners from CDC and other trusted sources.

Congregate Facilities and Shelters

General Population Disaster Shelters

This Environmental Health Assessment Form for Disaster Shelters tool assists environmental health practitioners in conducting a rapid assessment of shelter conditions during emergencies and disasters. This tool can be modified to meet local needs during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency.

CDC’s Interim Guidance for General Population Disaster Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic [PDF – 9 pages] provides guidance on reducing the risk of introducing and transmitting COVID-19 in general population disaster shelters before, during, or after a disaster.

Correctional and Detention Facilities

Resources for Correctional and Detention Facilities before and during an outbreak are also available.

Retirement and Independent Living Facilities

The Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities (Interim Guidance) is for owners, administrators, operators, workers, volunteers, visitors, and residents of retirement communities and independent living facilities.

Childcare Programs That Remain Open

Guidance for Childcare Programs that Remain Open should be used in conjunction with CDC’s guidance for administrators of child care programs and K-12 schools.

Cooling Centers

COVID-19 and Cooling Centers provides guidance for federal, state, local, and tribal jurisdictions in the United States considering opening or operating cooling centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cleaner Air Shelters and Spaces

COVID-19 Considerations for Cleaner Air Shelters and Cleaner Air Spaces to Protect the Public from Wildfire Smoke provides interim guidance to reduce the risk of introducing and transmitting SARS-CoV-2 in cleaner air shelters and cleaner air spaces.

Parks and Recreational Facilities

Guidance for Administrators in Parks and Recreational Facilities offers guidance for the use and administration of local, state, and national parks.

Cleaning and Disinfection

EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 is a list of products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Read EPA’s infographic on how to use these disinfectant products safely and effectively.

CDC also has recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting community facilities, workplaces, and households.

Food Safety

Food Safety for Food Facilities

These resources provide information on food safety and keeping restaurants, grocery stores, and other food facilities disinfected.

FDA also has a Questions & Answers for Industry document that covers numerous topics related to COVID-19 and food safety.

Food Safety for Consumers

CDC’s Basic Food Safety page provides important information on handling delivered food safely and obtaining food from safe sources.

Water Safety

CDC’s Water and COVID-19 FAQs page addresses numerous water safety topics, including drinking water, wastewater, recreational water, disease transmission through water, and even wastewater worker safety.
Guidance for Building Water Systems
Considerations for Public Pools, Hot Tubs, and Water Playgrounds During COVID-19

Solid Waste and Debris

Provided below is CDC guidance on solid waste management in various settings.

Additional information about recommended practices for terminal cleaning of rooms and PPE to be worn by environmental services personnel is available in the Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19 document.

Environmental Health Practitioners and Rodent Control Programs

Rodent activity is increasing in some jurisdictions. Rodent control and surveillance are critical for protecting public health during responses to natural disasters and public health emergencies. Learn how to address community-wide rodent activity in your area.