APARTMENT ADVOCATE
NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION /
NATIONAL MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COUNCIL
NAA Outlines Guidelines for Coronavirus
T
he Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) is closely
monitoring the outbreak of
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
[formerly novel coronavirus 2019- nCoV],
which was first detected in Wuhan City, China,
and has since spread to 28 additional countries.
With 14 cases of coronavirus confirmed in
the United States (through February 26,
2020), the National Apartment Association
(NAA) believes it prudent for its members and
affiliates to be prepared for incidents involving
COVID-19 should they occur.
NAA understands that affiliates,
members and residents may have concerns
about how apartment communities should
address the virus and, in an effort to offer
preliminary guidance and information to
44 | TRENDS MARCH 2020
assist with preparations, we have compiled
the following material from official sources.
It is important to recognize that NAA,
its affiliates and individual members are
not health care professionals. The CDC
and other qualified health officials should
continue to be the primary source of current
information and guidance. NAA is offering
general, precautionary guidance from
officials, and adding some common-sense
guidelines for our industry in the interest of
promoting a proper amount of caution at
this time. Because this is a rapidly evolving
situation, NAA will monitor developments
and will continue efforts to secure guidance
specific to the operation of rental housing
from health officials. Additionally, NAA will
update its website with new information as it
becomes available.
CURRENT POINT OF VIEW:
1. Refer most media and key stakeholder
inquiries to Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) resources at this time. NAA, its
affiliates and individual members are
not health care providers. Providing
specific guidance (health tips) beyond
general precautionary measures, is not
advised. The CDC and other qualified
officials should provide this information.
2. Continue to monitor the situation, stay
tuned to your local authorities and their
ongoing communications and keep track
of how it affects “higher risk” sectors
such as travel/tourism, convention
centers, sporting events and the like to
see whether efforts here lead to more
definitive guidance from health officials.
www.aamdhq.org