Bowie Updates

Most recent update | Previous updates from the City of Bowie | Public Health Declaration issued by the City.

Governor Hogan’s Amended Order (May 27)

Bowie Operating Status

City Facilities

City Hall: CLOSED to the public

Police Department: RESTRICTED access. Please call 240-544-5700 for assistance or use the intercom in the small vestibule area at the entrance to the Department. Speed camera citations late fees are waived.

Kenhill Center: CLOSED to the public

Gymnasium: CLOSED to the public

Senior Center: CLOSED to the public. Senior Center transportation continues for essential medical appointments and to ensure that seniors have essential supplies and groceries.

Parks: ALL OPEN. However, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, playgrounds, picnic areas, courts, ballfields, and fitness equipment are now closed and off limits. Do not participate or allow your children to participate in activities or group play involving more than 10 people (per the Governor’s order). Despite the Governor’s Orders easing restrictions on outdoor exercise and activities on May 6, Bowie playgrounds & fields remain closed. No changes are expected until the Stay at Home order is lifted.

Dog Park: OPEN

Ice Arena: CLOSED to the public

Museums: CLOSED to the public

Bowie Services

Curbside collections: CONTINUE with modifications; Effective Wednesday, March 25: 1)Trash must be placed in trash cans or closed bags. No loose trash will be picked up; 2) Special pickup is suspended; and 3) Recycling must be in recycling bins or carts. No loose items will be picked up 4) Yard waste is being collected

Utilities: Late fees and shutoffs are suspended

Council Meetings: CLOSED to the public. Residents may view meetings online at www.cityofbowie.org/viewmeetings or on Verizon channel 10 or Comcast channel 71 and 996. Those wishing to submit testimony for public hearings, or comments for the Citizen Participation portion of an upcoming Council meeting, can send a text message to 240-335-3282 or email written or video testimony/comments to cityclerk@cityofbowie.org. Or, mail the comments to City Hall. For more information, contact the City Clerk at 301-809-3029 or ahernandez@cityofbowie.org.

Outside Services & Updates

Bowie Pantry & Emergency Aid Fund: OPEN with changes in operations. Visit the Pantry’s website for more information.

Senior Meals: Homebound meals will continue to be delivered to those registered for the program. For information, contact the Prince George’s County Department of Aging Senior Nutrition Program at 301-265-8475.

School Children Meals: Grab & Go meals are available to Prince George’s School System students weekdays at Benjamin Tasker Middle School and other schools; for details, visit www.pgcps.org.

Prince George’s County Health Department COVID-19 Hotline: 301-883-6627

Maryland Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline: 410-767-6871

COVID-19 Testing Locations

The State of Maryland has announced COVID-19 testing locations. Before visiting a testing site, please visit https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/symptoms-testing#siteapp for the most up-to-date information on testing sites.

State of Maryland Drive-Through Testing Sites in Prince George’s County

• Clinton VEIP (Opens Thursday, May 28)

7213 Old Alexandria Ferry Road                                                                                                                                                       Clinton, MD 20735

• Six Flags Amusement Park (opens May 29, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) 

13710 Central Ave
Bowie, MD 20721

Any Maryland resident who suspects that he or she may have been exposed to COVID-19 may receive a test at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro on Friday, and no doctor’s order or appointment is required. Tests will be provided by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to patients at no out-of-pocket cost.

Prince George’s County continues to offer tests at the following location:

• Prince George’s County Health Department Clinic

3003 Hospital Drive                                                                                                                                                                         Cheverly, MD 20782                                                                                                                                                                    Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (By appointment only)                                                                                                                301-883-6627 (coronavirus hotline)

FREE screening and testing by appointment only. Residents should contact their primary care physicians or the Prince George’s coronavirus hotline. More information at http://health.mypgc.us/COVIDtesting.

CVS Drive Through Testing

Another aspect to the state’s aggressive effort to expand testing is the addition of drive through self-swab testing at certain CVS locations. Self-swab tests will be available to individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to age guidelines. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com beginning Friday, May 22 to schedule an appointment. Patients will be required to stay in their cars and directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window, where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions. A CVS Pharmacy team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly. Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately three days. Testing will not take place inside any retail CVS locations.

Prince George’s County

• CVS Pharmacy, 8201 Annapolis Road, New Carrollton, MD 20784
• CVS Pharmacy, 7600 SE Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
• CVS Pharmacy, 4840 Marlboro Pike, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
• CVS Pharmacy, 5100 Brown Station Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Anne Arundel County 

• CVS Pharmacy, 2600 Annapolis Road, Severn, MD 21076
• CVS Pharmacy, 157 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146

View press release on launch of CVS testing sites (includes complete list of CVS testing sites)

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Prince George’s County and across Maryland is expected to increase with expanded testing and the numbers may seem quite alarming. It is important to remember that identifying the additional cases and isolating these individuals, especially the asymptomatic ones, will be a critical step in slowing down the spread of the disease.

More information on COVID-19 testing in Maryland
Governor Hogan’s press release on testing 
Governor’s order on testing by licensed pharmacists

Watch our latest video message (3/19/20) about COVID-19. It addresses flattening the curve of the outbreak and also includes a message from Mayor Adams.

How can I protect myself?

• Take everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs;
  • Wash your hands frequently with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water
  • Cover your mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • If you are sick, stay home from work or school
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay home if you are sick. If you suspect for any reason that you may have been exposed to COVID19, do not go to the hospital, call your primary care physician and they will direct you.
• CDC Guidance on wearing Cloth Face Coverings

Social Distancing

• Flattening the curve is the key to slowing the spread of the virus.
• Stay home as much as possible. If you need to go to the grocery store or pharmacy, do so.
• Try to use delivery service, you can get just about anything delivered right to your door. Online shopping is a great way to help the economy. Continue to order food from your local restaurants if possible.
• Find activities that are safe and relaxing. Walk in your neighborhood, play in your yard, plant a garden. Converse with your neighbors over the fence and from a safe distance. This is a great time to meet people we drive past every day.
• Please don’t hoard. This is a scary time, but the stores are restocking daily.

Guidelines

• When You Can be Around Others After You Had or Likely Had COVID-19 (May 24)
• If You are Sick or Caring for Someone (updated information – May 24)
• How to Wash Face Coverings (May 22)

What is the Coronavirus?

• There are several common coronaviruses that infect the human and animal population and cause mild to moderate illness, such as the common cold. The coronavirus also caused the Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
• The coronavirus that originated in China has been designated COVID-19 and most likely spread from bats at an open-air market to humans. Person-to-person spreading is now occurring across the globe.
• Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. 
• The CDC has released test kits to hospitals to confirm infection, and states have been granted permission to develop and use their own tests.
• Governor Hogan has declared a State of Emergency in order to provide a more coordinated statewide response across all levels of government.
• View the latest Situation Summary from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Where can I get more information?

• During an epidemic/ pandemic event, rumors will run wild. When looking for information and updates on the coronavirus, use trust-worthy sites only, do not believe everything you read on social media.

Centers for Disease Control And Prevention (CDC)

Maryland State Department of Health

Prince George’s County Department of Health