The president and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have issued a Coronavirus Guidance for America identifying plumbers and other tradespeople as "essential critical infrastructure workers" as the nation responds to the threat of COVID-19.

In a DHS memorandum issued by Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) Director Christopher C. Krebs, CISA announced development of an initial list of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers "to help state and local officials as they work to protect their communities, while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security."

The list identifies those professions deemed essential to continued critical infrastructure viability and advises such workers to continue normal operations, appropriately modified to account for Centers for Disease Control (CDC) workforce and customer protection guidance.

"Workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences" are specifically recognized on the list, which may be viewed at www.iapmo.org/media/23516/dhs_essential_workers.pdf

IAPMO recently published a guidance for plumbing professionals working under the threat of COVID-19 authored by Peter DeMarco, executive vice president of advocacy and research for The IAPMO Group. That white paper may be viewed at www.iapmo.org/media/23453/coronavirus_guidance_for_plumbers.pdf

"Our industry has known for many decades that its contribution to society is essential to global health," said IAPMO CEO GP Russ Chaney. "This new guidance, to state and local officials from the White House, validates that our industry is vital to the United States. Our highly skilled plumbers have been deemed essential to the nation's ability to function and recognized as people on whom we can all depend in normal times or a global crisis."