Supporting and Protecting Residents Experiencing Homelessness in the Nation's Largest Cities During COVID-19.

Large urban health departments developed and implemented various approaches to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks and promote the health and well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout the pandemic. Reviewing the approaches of several large urban health departments, the most frequent practices included increasing housing options, on-the-ground outreach and resource allocation, and integrated communications. Key steps necessary to develop and implement these policies and procedures are discussed, and innovative approaches are highlighted.

Variation Among Public Health Interventions in Initial Efforts to Prevent and Control the Spread of COVID-19 in the 50 States, 29 Big Cities, and the District of Columbia.

US states and big cities acted to protect the residents of their jurisdictions from the threat of SARS-CoV-2 infection and reduce COVID-19 transmission. As there were no known pharmacologic interventions to prevent COVID-19 at the outset of the pandemic, public health and elected leaders implemented a host of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to slow the spread of the virus. This article discusses variation among states and cities in their implementation of 3 NPIs: stay-at-home/shelter-in-place orders, gathering restrictions, and mask mandates. We illustrate how frequently each was used by states and big cities, discuss state and local authorities to implement such interventions, and consider how these NPIs and accompanying public adherence to public health orders may vary considerably in different regions of the country and by local and state laws specific to state preemption of public health authority.