(WASHINGTON, DC) – Due to dangerously hot temperatures, the District’s public COVID-19 testing sites will operate on a modified schedule on Tuesday, July 21 and Wednesday, July 22. Firehouse testing locations will remain closed. Residents are still encouraged to call their health care providers if they are in need of a test.
Tuesday, July 21 Public COVID-19 Testing Schedule
- UDC-CC Bertie Backus Campus site (5171 South Dakota Avenue, NE), 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Judiciary Square site (F Street, NW between 4th and 5th Streets, NW), 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, July 22 Public COVID-19 Testing Schedule
- Anacostia site (2241 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE), 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Judiciary Square site (F Street, NW between 4th and 5th Streets, NW), 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
No appointment is needed to get tested at the District’s public testing sites.
Additionally, the District’s grocery distribution sites will reopen and resume their normal hours. Meal sites across the city also remain open for all in need. A list of grocery distribution and meal site locations and hours can be found at coronavirus.dc.gov/food.
Mayor Muriel Bowser has activated the District’s Heat Emergency Plan for Saturday, July 18 through Wednesday, July 22. When the forecast of the temperature or heat index in the District is 92 degrees or higher, the District Government, through the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), activates a heat emergency as well as cooling centers for residents to seek relief from the heat.
Cooling Centers
Select recreation centers, public schools, and homeless shelters will open as cooling centers each day from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., or until it has been deemed safe to be outdoors, through Wednesday, July 22. If you or someone you know needs transportation to a cooling center, call the hyperthermia hotline at (202) 399-7093. Cooling centers open to the public are listed below.
Ward 2
Volta Park Recreation Center
1555 34th Street, NW
Ward 3
Hardy Recreation Center
4500 Q Street, NW
Ward 4
Hamilton Recreation Center
1340 Hamilton Street, NW
Petworth Recreation Center
801 Taylor Street, NW
Ward 5
Dunbar Recreation Center and High School
100/101 N Street, NW
Ward 6
Randall Recreation Center
S Capitol Street, SW & I Street, SW
Seaton Elementary School
1503 10th Street, NW
Watkins Elementary School
420 12th Street, SE
Ward 7
Marvin Gaye Recreation Center
5200 Foote Street, NE
Aiton Elementary School
533 48th Place, NE
Randle Highlands Elementary School
1650 30th Street, SE
Ward 8
Congress Heights Recreation Center
611 Alabama Avenue, SE
Patterson Elementary School
4399 South Capitol Terrace, SW
In an effort to decrease community spread of COVID-19 in the District, cooling centers have adopted the following safeguards:
- Individuals entering cooling centers are required to wear a mask or face covering while inside the facility.
- Individuals who do not have a face mask or covering when entering a District cooling center will be provided one.
- Upon entering a District cooling center, individuals will be directed to an open seat that is marked off to indicate required social distancing measures.
For information about services provided during extreme heat, visit heat.dc.gov or call the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center by dialing 311. Residents can register to receive Heat Emergency alerts on their devices by signing up for AlertDC at alertdc.dc.gov.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Updates
In response to the Heat Emergency, DC DMV’s Inspection Station located at 1001 Half Street, SW will operate on the following modified schedule:
- Tuesday, July 21, 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 22, 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Regular spring/summer vehicle inspection hours will resume on Thursday, July 23. The complete list of locations and hours of operation are available at dmv.dc.gov.
Extreme Heat Safety Precautions
The public can limit heat exposure by:
- Staying indoors when possible;
- Drinking plenty of liquids and avoiding drinks with caffeine and alcohol;
- Limiting sun exposure, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., when the sun is the strongest;
- Applying sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outdoors; and
- Wearing light-colored, lightweight clothing.
For all animal emergencies, including animals left outside in extreme heat or in vehicles, call the Humane Rescue Alliance at (202) 576-6664.
Unauthorized use of fire hydrants is unlawful, dangerous and damaging. To report a fire hydrant that has been tampered with, call 311.
Low-Barrier Shelters
The Downtown Daytime Services Center (1313 New York Avenue, NW) is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by appointment only.
Low-Barrier shelters for individuals operate year-round. Due to high temperatures, low-barrier shelters will be open all day.
Men
- New York Avenue Shelter at 1355-57 New York Avenue, NE
- 801 East Shelter at 801 Making Life Better Lane, SE
- Adams Place Shelter at 2210 Adams Place, NE
Women
- Nativity Shelter at 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW
- Harriet Tubman, DC General Building #27 at 1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE
- Patricia Handy Place for Women at 810 5th Street, NW
- Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) at 425 2nd Street, NW
Families seeking emergency shelter can call 311 at any time day or night. When the District Government is open, families may also visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, Monday – Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.