CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Healthcare providers in our community have been putting out the plea to fill out the 2020 census during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The self-response phase was extended to fill out your U.S. Census. You now have until August 14, 2020.

Click HERE for a link to the census.

In-person visits are not scheduled at this time, due to the pandemic.

Reportedly, there’s been quite a low response rate so far, likely due to the coronavirus crisis.

The information, however, could help determine how much money comes back into our local and state governments.

“"It's important,” said Dr. O’Dell Owens, the president and CEO of Interact for Health. “As a health foundation, you get your medical. It comes out to how much medical money you're going to get to your community. If you're not counting everyone, you're going to be missing out on some guidelines. Let's be clear, it's all about getting money for your community."

The 2020 Census information is kept confidential: they don’t ask for money, donations, or social security numbers.

Many have said the information is critical during the COVID-19 crisis to return some of the money hospitals and healthcare settings really need right now.