Public Health Emergency Declared In Bowie Due To Rising COVID Cases

BOWIE, MD — Bowie Mayor Timothy Adams has issued a new public health emergency declaration regarding COVID-19 and the omicron variant. The declaration follows a similar statement made by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Tuesday. Declaring a public health emergency makes available to the city the resources needed to address the situation.

COVID hospitalizations in Maryland are at an all-time high of 3,118 and the positivity rate in Maryland hovers at 28.56 percent; Prince George’s County positivity rate is 36.60 percent. According to the Maryland Department of Health website, since Dec. 30, 1,455 new COVID cases have been reported among residents of the four Bowie zip codes.

“We’re at another point in this pandemic where it is critically important to do everything we can to protect ourselves and others from the spread of the coronavirus. I implore you to practice safe hygiene, wear a mask over your mouth and nose when in public, get a flu shot and get vaccinated and boosted against COVID if you are able and have not already done so," Adams stated.

The current vaccination rate for the four Bowie zip codes is listed below. The data is from the Maryland Department of Health and is shared with residents each weekday on the city of Bowie website.

Below is the language contained in Bowie's public health declaration.