Chris Worrell, right, jokes with Teresa Jefferson as he applies to work the 2020 Census at the John Tierney Learning Center in South Boston on Feb. 22. Photo: Blake Nissen for The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The U.S. Census Bureau will suspend field operations for two weeks to help fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, the agency announced Wednesday.
What's happening: Census takers are scheduled to start visiting houses to collect the information of those who have not responded in late May to complete the count, but the agency said it will follow federal and state health guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic and make changes as necessary.
- The Census Bureau will continue counting census information while field operations are temporarily suspended.
The big picture: COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly between people who are within 6 feet of each other and through coughing and sneezing, per the CDC. Spread of the virus may be possible before symptoms are apparent.