- Home
- Our Community
- Emergency Preparedness
- Coronavirus
Coronavirus Updates and Guidance
-
COVID-19 Update for August 10
State and county positivity rates declining, especially for those under age 35. Bowie Ice Arena open with some limitations. Case #s reflect changes since 8/7 (3-day changes). See the daily numbers and other important info in today’s COVID-19 update. Read the full August 10 COVID-19 update.
Bowie Updates
Most recent update | Previous updates from the City of Bowie | Public Health Declaration issued by the City.
Bowie Operating Status
City Government – What’s Open and What’s Closed?
The City of Bowie has eased some restrictions on activities and services:
Open Now*
- Service windows at City Hall for Animal Control, Code Enforcement, Rental Licenses, & Water Bill Payments
- Police Department lobby for obtaining police reports, paying speed cameras, and conducting other Police Department business.
- Farmers’ Market (with COVID-19 restrictions)
- Parks and playgrounds
- Fitness equipment in parks
- Ballfields for youth sports and low contact sports (maximum 10 per field). Practices only; no competitions.
- Tennis courts
- Outdoor basketball courts
- City Gymnasium open with restrictions.
- Permits required for ballfields. Residents only.
- Picnic permits required for pavilions and other permitted areas (max 50). Residents only.
- Ice Arena open with restrictions.
(*) Please note: Capacity and other limitations are in effect, per the Prince George’s County Executive Order in effect June 29, at 5 p.m. This information is subject to change. Visit www.cityofbowie.org or call 301-262-6200 for details and updated information.
Still Closed, Canceled, or Suspended
- Historic Properties, Senior Center, Kenhill Center
- Conference room reservations
- Concerts at Allen Pond Park (through at least October 31)
- City events (through at least October 31)
- In-person meetings (City Council, committees, stakeholder, and town hall meetings are all being conducted virtually.)
Bowie Services
Curbside collections: Collection of bulk and large metal items have returned to the way they were done prior to the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Bulk items are large items that cannot fit in a trashcan or bag such as sofas, mattresses, tables, etc.
- Bulk items may be set next to your trash can or bag on your regular trash collection days.
- Large metal items - metal furniture, appliances, grills (no tanks) - will be collected on Wednesdays by appointment only. Call 301-809-2344 or visit www.cityofbowie.org/servicerequest to schedule an appointment.
- Small metal items that can fit in a trashcan, should be disposed of in that way.
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.
Prince George’s County Public Schools: School buildings will not reopen to students in the fall. The school year will begin with distance learning. For at least the first and second quarters, instruction will be done remotely through a combination of recorded lessons and live online sessions. PGCPS will provide devices and internet connectivity for those that need it, and the system is developing a means to provide instructional and technical support to families. Additionally, schools will serve as student meal sites. For the latest PGCPS information, visit www.pgcps.org.
School Children Meals: Prince George’s County Schools school year meal distribution program ended Wednesday, June 17. It will be replaced with a summer “grab and go” program that will operate Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon at various schools, libraries, and neighborhoods throughout the County, including Benjamin Tasker Middle School, High Bridge Elementary School, and Pointer Ridge Elementary School in Bowie. The program runs from June 29 through August 13. View the full list of summer meal locations on the PGCPS website.
Prince George’s County Memorial Library System: Will gradually resume in-person services.
Current status:
- Book Drops open.
- New holds for physical materials available.
- Curbside service available.
For the latest library information, visit www.pgcmls.info
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
For more information on COVID-19 testing:
- Find a testing site on the Maryland website; or
- Find a Prince George’s County operated testing site or call the Prince George’s County Health Department at 301-883-6627.
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 COVID-19, 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)