Over the past several days as more information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is being disseminated by the federal, state and local governments, there has been a push to classify industries as essential or non-essential. Those deemed as essential can continue to operate as more quarantines and restrictions are put in place. NPMA firmly believes that structural pest control is an essential industry that must continue to provide the valuable services we offer during this pandemic.
On 3/17/2020 NPMA sent a letter from CEO Dominique Stumpf to Governors of all 50 states, US Conference of Mayors, the mayors of the largest 100 cities, EPA Administrator Wheeler, President Trump, leadership of both the House and the Senate, AAPCO, ASPCRO and all the SPARs.
On 3/18/2020, NPMA and CPMA sent a letter to Health Canada, CFIA, Canadian Health Ministers, Canadian Premiers, and the mayors of Canada’s capital cities.
If you’d like to customize this letter and share with your local municipalities or others feel free to do so. We also want to clarify that it is upon each business to make a decision on what works best for your company, your employees, and your customers but do want to ensure that we have the ability to continue protecting the public from pests and their associated disease and destruction.
Click here for the list of shelter in place orders.
Click here to see a state by state breakdown of COVID-19 resources and regulations.
Click here to see a province by province breakdown of Canadian COVID-19 resources and regulations.
As the Coronavirus continues to change daily life, we have seen several states and provinces that have implemented either strict shelter in place orders and several others that have provided guidance on what businesses should and should not operate. NPMA is working hard to advocate for pest control services to be deemed essential in all states and provinces. *The designation of "essential service" does not require businesses to remain open and/or change the scope of services.
If you are in a US state with a shelter in place order, NPMA recommends printing a copy of the shelter in place order and printing or having a link to the Department of Homeland Security Guidance Document on critical infrastructure.
Additionally, US employees may also use the attached form for information on pest control being an essential service in states with a shelter in place order.
To advocate for an essential classification, NPMA has taken efforts, that include:
Click Here for State Testing Status and COVID-19 Related Updates
Click here for Antimicrobal Certification Requirements
As states cease or limit testing opportunities due to COVID-19 related changes or shutdowns, many state are modifying testing requirements or procedures. NPMA is compiling information about the status of testing programs in each US state, this information can be found here. This information will be updated frequently as new details become available. For a state by state breakdown of antimicrobial certification requirements click here.
Additionally, the Association of American Pesticide Control Officials has developed a COVID-19 webpage posting information about state testing and COVID-19 regulatory updates.
Outreach, Education And Training For The COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard, 16VAC25-220
Complete training by:
• August 26 for general training
• September 25 for P&R Plan training
Downloadable Presentations and Templates for VA Businesses: https://www.doli.virginia.gov/covid-19-outreach-education-and-training/
Medium Risk Presentation: http://www.doli.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ETS-Medium-Risk-Level-Training-Presentation.pdf
Click here to find the State Policy Affairs Representative (SPAR) for your state.