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Dial 211 for local COVID-19 information and resources

Many 211 centers are now working with state and local health officials to provide vital COVID-19 information to the public

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Image: 211.org

Governments are increasingly turning to COVID-19 hotlines to keep their communities informed.

But as we learned earlier this week, when news broke out of Washington State that hotlines were critically inundated, these efforts may not be enough if local conditions worsen and call volumes unexpectedly spike.

That’s why local 211 services are proving to be so vital as communities navigate this crisis.

According to the FCC, 211 is available to approximately 309 million people, which is roughly 95% of the total U.S. population. 211 covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

While 211 services help residents access a variety of local resources 365 days a year — including food and shelter assistance, physical and mental health resources and services for those with disabilities — many centers are now working with state and local health officials to provide up-to-date information about the coronavirus as well as resources for those impacted.

To find out whether 211 services are offered in your area and to obtain more information, visit 211.org.

Sarah is based in North Carolina, where she lives with her son and several rambunctious reptiles. Before taking on her current role with Lexipol, she was the staff writer for the tech website DZone and served as an assistant editor with the rural lifestyle publication GRIT Magazine. Get in touch with her at ssinning@lexipol.com.