Capacity Resources

These ASTHO-produced resources were created to assist members in identifying ways to expand jurisdictional and public health system capacity to respond to COVID-19. Topics may include activities such as surge capacity planning, postponement of elective procedures, and more.

Guidance Documents

Intervention Actions

• A Coordinated, National Approach to Scaling Public Health Capacity for Contact Tracing and Disease Investigation (PDF) (Apr. 10, 2020)

Issue Briefs

• Clinical Workforce Capacity and Surges (Nov. 17, 2020)
• ASTHOBrief: Virtual Food Safety Inspections During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Oct. 29, 2020)
• Regulations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare Settings During the COVID-19 Response (PDF) (Apr. 30, 2020)
• Healthcare Surge Capacity Planning—Modeling as a Decision-Making Tool for Public Health Officials (PDF) (updated April 3, 2020)
• CMS Interim Final Rule Review (PDF) (updated Mar. 31, 2020)
• Optimizing PPE Supplies with Decontamination and Reuse (PDF) (updated Mar. 27, 2020)
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Shortages: Considerations for Donation Management and Homemade Equipment (PDF) (updated Mar. 25, 2020)
• Postponing Elective Procedures to Increase COVID-19 Healthcare Capacity (PDF) (updated Mar. 23, 2020)
• Preparing for and Responding to Hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Surge (PDF) (updated Mar. 23, 2020)

Blog Posts

• Public Health Policy Issues to Watch in 2021 (Jan. 7, 2021)
• States Support Rural Hospitals While COVID-19 Highlights Challenges (June 24, 2020)
• What is Needed for Community Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic (Apr. 17, 2020)