COVID-19 Update: Expanding Testing Capacity in Prince George’s County
Dear Prince Georgians:
Over the last two months we have seen unprecedented changes in our lives and the world. Your County Government has acted proactively to anticipate the impact of COVID-19 and to do our level best to protect our residents. These actions include increasing hospital capacity to meet the expected surge of patients, ordering the use of face coverings to slow the spread of the virus, putting in place measures to protect our frontline employees, and providing critical financial assistance to businesses and workers.
We have known since the beginning of this pandemic that some of our residents have easier access to COVID-19 testing than others, and that 50,000 Prince Georgians did not have health insurance. In response to that, on March 30, we opened a screening and testing facility in the parking lot of FedExField where we could screen and test our residents, the first in the State. We have tested over 1,600 people and screened over 2,000 at the site to date. That site, however, was a temporary solution, and our capacity to test was sometimes hampered by poor weather.
The FedExField site closed as of Wednesday, April 29, but we are happy to announce that we are fully moving COVID-19 screening and testing operations to the Prince George’s County Health Department’s Cheverly Clinic starting Monday, May 4. The new site will be open 5 days a week, allowing us to expand our testing capacity for the County without concern for weather conditions. The site is still by appointment only, and residents must call our hotline at 301-883-6627 to schedule an appointment. We are working to identify additional locations in the County, one in north County and one in south County, to further expand our testing capacity.
As we face this pandemic, so many parts of our lives continue. Our high school seniors are closing out their last year of high school in ways none of us could have imagined, learning from home away from their friends and classmates. Today is College Signing Day and I am Prince George’s Proud of our class of 2020 for earning admission to colleges and universities across the country. We have so much to be proud of, and I want to congratulate our high school seniors for all that they have accomplished in our classrooms and in our community.
I also want to remind residents that the State primary election will be held on June 2 this year, rescheduled from April 28. This election will be conducted primarily by mail, and we have included some more information about that process below. Please make sure you register to vote or check your voter registration status, and once you receive your ballot in the mail, please remember to vote.
Prince Georgians, I know that this is a difficult time for so many of you. As of this morning, approximately 6,300 of our residents have contracted the Coronavirus and we have lost 223 of our community members. My heart is with each of you grieving the loss of family members, friends, neighbors and members of our community. I am with you, Prince Georgians, and your County Government continues to work around the clock to confront this pandemic. Remember, we are in this together and we will get through this together.
Yours in service,
Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive
Tele-Town Hall May 7
 County Executive Alsobrooks will host a Tele-Town Hall on Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 PM to give an update of the Government’s COVID-19 response. To register, or to submit your questions or concerns, please click here. If you do not want to listen over the phone, you can tune into CTV Channel 76 (Verizon Fios 42) at 6:30 PM on May 7 to listen to the live broadcast of the Tele-Town Hall.
State Primary Election June 2
 The State primary election will be held on June 2, conducted primarily by mail. The State Board of Elections will mail ballots to all eligible voters, so please remember to register to vote and/or check the status of your registration. Also, once you get your ballot, don’t forget to fill it out and return it so your vote is counted. Please note that the ballot will say April 28 because the State had already printed the ballots before the primary was officially moved. For more information about how the primary will work, check out the voter guide.
New COVID-19 Screening/Testing Facility
 Our new COVID-19 screening and testing facility at the Health Department’s Cheverly Clinic is open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. The new location will allow us to expand testing capacity without concern for weather. This testing continues to be by appointment only, and residents wishing to make an appointment should call the County’s COVID-19 hotline at 301-883-6627. Residents can be seen at this facility regardless of insurance coverage, and screening and testing is free.
Guidance for Renters & Homeowners
 All residential foreclosures and evictions are currently suspended, which means renters cannot be evicted if they do not have the resources to pay rent during this crisis. Communicate with your landlord about any issues you may be having with paying rent, and if you find yourself facing eviction seek free legal guidance. If you have the resources, you should continue to pay your rent or mortgage.
The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development has provided some additional guidance for homeowners on forbearance provisions outlined in the CARES Act. Please click here to learn more.
 The Department of Social Services announces that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline to enroll in health insurance has been extended to June 15, 2020. To enroll over the telephone in Prince George’s County, call 301-927-4500 Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM. Bilingual specialists are available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM, at 240-719-2167. To enroll online, please click here. Free consumer assistance is available by calling 1-855-642-8572, or Relay 711 from 8 AM to 6 PM on weekdays. Individuals can also download the free “Enroll MHC” mobile app.
The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) is now offering limited virtual inspections as an alternative to on-site inspections. Virtual inspections allow County inspectors to perform on-demand inspections from remote locations utilizing technology instead of direct interaction with the public. Virtual inspections are conducted between customers and County inspectors via video call on 4G smart phones or tablets using FaceTime or Skype. The remote inspections are limited to residential projects at this time. Inspectors discuss the scope and requirements with customers prior to the appointment. Customers prepare by ensuring they have permits and plans, gathering the appropriate tools (tape measures, ladders, etc.) and checking to make sure the necessary technology is fully operational. Customers are notified immediately if their projects pass or fail. For additional information, visit the DPIE website.
The Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) continues to add new resources to the online library, including over 3,500 new ebooks and audiobooks for all ages, Lynda.com Library, and Foundation Directory Online Essential. Drive-Up WiFi is available at all library buildings with a PGCMLS library card or PGCPS LINK card number. Parents/guardians and students can access the Library's Homework Support Suite for free resources to support virtual learning, including live tutoring, practice standardized tests, and more.
For the latest updates on County Government services and operations, please visit mypgc.us.
 Last Friday, April 24, Governor Hogan announced his plan to gradually re-open our State through the Maryland Strong: Roadmap To Recovery. The State will look at the rate of hospitalizations and the number of patients admitted to ICU to determine when a recovery and re-opening will begin. Governor Hogan has stressed that each of the three phases will happen in stages, with careful regard to mitigating risk.
On April 29, Governor Hogan announced increased safety measures at Maryland residential care homes, including mandatory COVID-19 testing of all staff and residents. He also acknowledged the difficulties Marylanders have had trying to use the State’s new portal for filing unemployment claims, saying the State will continue to work to improve the site. You can watch the entire press conference here.
The Maryland Department of Health, under the direction of Governor Hogan, continues to track and make public the number of COVID-19 cases in residential care homes around Maryland. For more information, visit their website.
Online applications for unemployment insurance benefits have been extended under COVID-19 to include gig economy workers, self-employed, and independent contractors. Please visit the State’s unemployment insurance portal for the latest updates and to apply for benefits.
For all updates from Governor Hogan and the State of Maryland, please visit the Governor’s website here.
Residents Go Viral with Sunday Brunch Live Streams
 Ashley Pittman and her mother, Lynn Stoutamire, have gone viral as DJ Curley Sue and Momma Sue with their live stream Sunday Brunch parties. These Prince Georgians have received attention from followers who have tuned in from Egypt, Germany, and other places around the world. Check out this great video of them having fun together and bringing joy to their neighbors.
3 Prince Georgians Drafted in the NFL
From left to right: Antoine Brooks, Jr., Chase Young, Anthony McFarland, Jr.
Our Prince Georgians continue to excel in a number of ways, including on the football field. This week we are Prince George’s Proud to highlight three of our young men recently drafted into the NFL: Chase Young who was drafted by our hometown team, the Washington Redskins; Antoine Brooks, Jr., drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers; and Anthony McFarland, Jr., also drafted by the Steelers. Congratulations to all three of these outstanding Prince Georgians! We look forward to watching you play.
Employee Spotlights
 As always, we are Prince George’s Proud of our County employees and how they continue to serve and assist our community. Darryl Bronson is a Transit Operator for Call-A-Bus in our Department of Public Works & Transportation. He likes the community involvement of working in transportation services for our County, and he enjoys seeing how his work positively impacts our community. Thank you to Mr. Bronson and all of our Transit Operators for continuing to provide critical services to our residents during these unprecedented times.
One of our employees from our Office of Central Services, Heavy Equipment Mechanic Limbert “Lim” Emmanuel, recently reported to active duty in support of COVID-19 operations. A Navy reservist Second-Class Hospital Corpsman, he was activated in early April and has been sent to Fort Dix in New Jersey to provide medical support to the New York City/New Jersey metropolitan area. Thank you, Lim, for your service to our County and nation. We are praying for your safe and timely return.
Census PSA
 We have an important PSA about the 2020 Census from our newest Census Ambassador, Kelenna. For each person not counted, we will lose $18,250 in federal funding over the next 10 years. Make sure you are counted by completing your Census TODAY at my2020Census.gov or 844-330-2020. Watch Kelenna’s message here.
 Please visit our resource website for information, fact sheets and infographics that may be of help to you or those you know. Our COVID-19 webpage has information about case counts, testing, and the latest updates from your County Government. These pages are updated regularly, so check back often.
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