Mapping the pandemic: Veterinary medicine and COVID-19

How is the spread of COVID-19 affecting veterinary practices across the country, and what can we do as veterinary professionals to mitigate its impact? This month’s chart helps shed light on these questions.

This map shows the number of COVID-19 cases (as of April 30, 2020) and the density of veterinary practices across the country. Larger red dots indicate a higher number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, and darker shades of blue represent more practices in a particular county.

See an interactive version of the map

You can view an interactive version of this map on the AVMA’s dedicated COVID-19 website, where it’s updated twice a day with real-time data on COVID-19 cases from Johns Hopkins University. Zoom in or out, and manipulate it to show specific data layers and details, including total population, number of veterinary practices, confirmed COVID-19 cases, and deaths at the county level.

What does it mean?

Areas with a higher number of COVID-19 cases are likely experiencing a more severe outbreak, which could translate into stricter social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders. While it’s always important to adhere to safety guidelines, it’s especially critical in these “hot spots.”

In areas with more veterinary practices, animal owners have more options to choose from. This was the case before the COVID-19 pandemic, and it still holds true. In these locations it’s crucial to distinguish your practice by building and maintaining strong relationships with clients.

If you’re in an area that has more veterinary practices and more COVID-19 cases, nurturing the veterinary-client-patient relationship is especially important. You’ll want your clients to know that your clinic is open for business and also make them aware of how you’re supporting and keeping them safe while meeting their animals’ healthcare needs.

What can you do?

• Use AVMA's resources for keeping veterinary teams safe during the pandemic. This includes guidance on PPE usage, minimizing COVID-19 exposure in your practice, and triage tools.
• Regular and thoughtful communication will keep clients informed and strengthen your relationships now and when the economy bounces back. Reach out to clients through various avenues, including email, text, and social media. The AVMA has a range of resources you can use, including FAQs, ready-to-share social media infographics, and a downloadable flyer on planning ahead for your animals’ care.
• Get creative with new and innovative strategies to deliver valuable veterinary services while keeping the safety of team members and clients top-of-mind. These could include curbside care, online ordering, and flexible payment plans.

More interactive maps

We have more interactive maps and tips for veterinary practices on our COVID-19 website. You can view a map of COVID-19 cases only, and a map that shows the social vulnerability of counties as ranked by the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). This data can help practices make informed and strategic decisions that support the delivery of quality veterinary care, while keeping teams and clients safe.

Find more COVID-19 tools and resources for veterinarians at avma.org/Coronavirus. Learn about new COVID-19 resources when we release them by subscribing to this blog and following AVMA’s social media pages.