Environmental Health Workforce – Essential for Interdisciplinary Solutions to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Interdisciplinary public health solutions are vital for an effective COVID-19 response and recovery. However, there is often a lack of awareness and understanding of the environmental health workforce capabilities. In the United States, this is a foundational function of health departments and is the second largest public health workforce. The primary role is to protect the public from exposures to environmental hazards, disasters and disease outbreaks. More specifically, this includes addressing risks relating to sanitation, drinking water, food safety, vector control and mass gatherings. This profession is also recognized in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019. Despite this, the entire profession is often not considered an essential service. Rapid integration into COVID-19 activities can easily occur as most are government employees and experienced working in complex and stressful situations. This role, for example, could include working with leaders, businesses, workplaces and churches to safely reopen, and inspections to inform, educate, and empower employers, employees and the public on safe actions. There is now the legislative support, evidence and a window of opportunity to truly enable interdisciplinary public health solutions by mobilizing the entire environmental health workforce to support COVID-19 response, recovery and resilience activities.

Public health challenges facing Environmental Health Officers during COVID‐19: methamphetamine contamination of properties

“…EHOs continue to be overlooked and under‐resourced despite the invaluable role they have played in response to COVID‐19 13,22 . To expedite and support society's recovery, it is essential that we minimise the burden of other controllable health risks; this includes the identification of emerging environmental health challenges.…”

“…This paper will use methamphetamine contamination of properties as an example of an emerging environmental health issue that has been exacerbated due to COVID‐19. This highlights the need for an increased labour force to ensure that this overlooked but critical public health workforce is supported to ensure public health protection now and into the future 12,22 …”

COVID-19 Contact Tracing Solutions for Mass Gatherings

“…Also, they are often experienced in working with business and the community in stressful and complex situations. 22 These events are not dissimilar from many of the permitted activities in terms of the person to person risk. Certain activities are also more heavily impacted by physical distancing, particularly conventions, concerts, sporting events, and festivals.…”

“…The specific guidance for sanitation, hygiene, and physical distancing provided by the CDC could be enforced and monitored at the county and state by the environmental health workforce. 22 The role of this profession has rapidly evolved over recent years to include emergencies to protect the public from exposures to environmental hazards, disasters, and disease outbreaks. 23 In recognition, the profession has been formally recognized in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019.…”

Impact of COVID-19 on the Vector-Borne Disease Research and Applied Public Health Workforce in the United States

“…A strong public and environmental health workforce is critical for preparing for the next pandemic and responding to existing threats, 3 including the increasing threat from VBDs. 4 The COVID-19 pandemic placed an unprecedented burden on national, state, county, and city health departments, adversely affecting the ability to recruit, train, and retain skilled public health professionals.…”