Census Day 2020 falls on April 1 — a fact that might register as something of a cruel April Fool’s joke in a year when the pandemic crisis has pushed virtually everything else from people’s minds. Still, despite the lockdowns, quarantines, fear, and uncertainty caused by the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), 2020 marks 10 years since the government’s last nationwide headcount. How could the virus impact the methods and accuracy of this year’s census — both locally and nationwide — and what are the stakes if census workers can’t pull it off this year?

In this week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, writer Craig Manning explores the impact of the pandemic on the Census count, as well as possible solutions for reaching as many households as possible while avoiding disease spread. Read the complete issue of the Northern Express online here, or pick up a free copy at newsstand locations (including grocery stores) in 14 counties across northern Michigan.