Covid-19

Masked nurse outside White House hold signs "Protect Nurses, Patients, Public Health"

National Nurses United Covid-19 timeline

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, NNU has led the way in advocating for and winning protections for nurses and other health care workers across the country. Learn more by following our full Covid-19 advocacy timeline.

Covid strain

About the virus

Learn more about SARS-CoV-2 including its symptoms and how it is transmitted.

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All Covid-19 resources

See our full list of resources for nurses and other health care workers, including information on PPE and other protections, public and community health, and more.

Latest resources

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What Nurses Need to Know »» Preventing the Long Covid Health Crisis

A large proportion of people who get Covid-19 experience long-term symptoms and health impacts, known as “long Covid.” Hospitals and other health care employers have a duty to ensure a safe environment for staff and patients. Read our flyer to learn about what measures are necessary to prevent spread of Covid-19 within health care facilities and to protect staff and patients from long Covid.

Nurses hold signs "Save Lives: Protect Nurses"

Ten Things That Nurses Need To Know About Long Covid

Following initial Covid-19 infection, a significant proportion of people continue to experience new, recurring, or ongoing symptoms and health problems that persist from several weeks or months to years. It is a multifaceted syndrome that can affect nearly every organ system and can disrupt people’s ability to work or participate in their daily lives. Learn more by reading our flyer.

N95 respirators >> NIOSH approvals and background info

Learn more about health care vs industrial N95s (updated April 2023)

Q&A » Bivalent Covid Boosters

Bivalent Covid vaccines, or bivalent boosters, contain two different components for the immune system to respond to. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s mRNA bivalent Covid-19 vaccines contain the mRNA for the spike protein for two different strains of the virus.

Post-Exposure Isolation Period for Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variant

This scientific brief outlines the incubation period and what nurses and other health care workers should do when exposed to Covid-19.

All Covid-19 resources
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NNU’s standards for hospital safety during the Covid-19 pandemic

Learn more about what protective measures hospitals and other health care facilities should implement.

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Statements and letters to officials

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, National Nurses United has called for the proper steps to protect nurses and public health.

Nurses inside hospital hold signs "Staff Up for Safe Care"

Surveys

NNU's national surveys have highlighted the issues nurses have faced during the pandemic—including unsafe staffing, workplace violence, and moral distress.

Tell-us-your-story forms

Health care workers have been deeply impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As a nurse-driven organization, we want to hear from you!

Nurses signs and stickers

Download your own materials to print, share on the web, or use on social media.

Bibliography

View the full National Nurses United Covid-19 bibliography.

Press releases

Group of nurses with raised fists, holding signs "Protect Nurses, Patients, Public Health"

NNU invited to join CDC’s HICPAC workgroup on infection prevention

National Nurses United is proud to announce that Jane Thomason, its lead industrial hygienist has been invited to join the workgroup of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, Lisa Baum, lead occupational safety and health representative at NNU affiliate New York State Nurses Association, has been invited to join HICPAC.
Bonnie Castillo, RN, Executive Director of NNU at podium surrounded by nurses holding signs "Protect Nurses, Patients, Public Health"

NNU condemns CDC’s decision to shorten the five-day isolation guidance for Covid-19

Slashing the Covid isolation guidance from five days to potentially just 24 hours based on the presence of fever ignores the available scientific evidence that people with Covid infections often remain infectious well beyond five days.
Nurses outside holding signs "Protect Nurses, Patients, Public Health"

NNU applauds CDC for sending draft infection guidance back to HICPAC for revision

National Nurses United applauds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for sending the draft infection control guidance back to the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee to resolve some significant issues in the draft.
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NNU calls out CDC/HICPAC for planning to vote on infection control guidance before public review and comment

National Nurses United calls out the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for planning to vote today to approve the draft Isolation Precautions Guideline without getting input from frontline health care workers, patients, industrial hygienists, research scientists, ventilation engineers, or experts in occupational health and respiratory protection.
All Covid-19 press releases

Articles

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Permanent Damage

Because our government and employers failed to protect nurses, thousands of us will struggle to live with Long Covid for the rest of our lives, jeopardizing our livelihoods and careers.
Nurse holds sign "Science Matters, We Are Not Expendable"

NNU health and safety experts join important CDC advisory groups

National Nurses United in May was proud to announce that Jane Thomason, its lead industrial hygienist, was invited to join the workgroup of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and that Lisa Baum, lead occupational safety and health representative at NNU affiliate New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), was invited to join HICPAC itself.
Nurses outside holding signs "Protect Nurses, Patients, Public Health"

NNU applauds CDC

In January, NNU applauded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for sending the draft infection control guidance back to the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee to resolve some significant issues in the draft.