City of Cedar Rapids
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
On This Page:
- Recent Updates
- City of Cedar Rapids Information
- Videos
- Trusted Sources
- Iowa State of Public Health Disaster Emergency
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Prevention Information
- Reopening Toolkit for Businesses
- Business Reopening FAQ
- Business Registry
- Database of Business Resources (City of Cedar Rapids & The Gazette partnership)
- Governor's Proclamation: Requirements and Limitations for Cedar Rapids Businesses
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Access City Services Online
- COVID-19 City Managers Report - April 14, 2020
- Database of Resident Resources (City of Cedar Rapids & The Gazette partnership)
Recent Updates
Fire Department to Turn on Fire Hydrants for Water Play | June 30, 2020
The Cedar Rapids Fire Department will turn on fire hydrants for water play at Rollin’ Recmobile stops at Cherry Hill, Delaney and Bever Parks. Read more…
City of Cedar Rapids Facility Closures Extended | June 30, 2020
The City of Cedar Rapids is extending building closures to the public through July 20, 2020. Closed facilities include City Hall, City Services Center, Cedar Rapids Water Administration, Central Fire Station, Animal Care and Control, Cedar Rapids Police Station,and NW Recreation Center. Read more…
Public-Private Partnership Supports Local Restaurants, Families | June 26, 2020
The City of Cedar Rapids, in partnership with the Cedar Rapids Community School District, is increasing food distribution to families in need while at the same time supporting local restaurants. Read more…
2020 Cedar Rapids Fire Department Fire Bowl Canceled | June 26
The Cedar Rapids Firefighters Foundation has canceled the 2020 Fire Bowl due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Fire Bowl was scheduled for August, however, COVID-19 remains a serious consideration for event organizers. Read more…
Noelridge Farmers' Market to Open July 1 | June 26
The Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department will open the Noelridge Farmers’ Market, on the corner of Collins Road and Council Street NE, on Wednesday, July 1 at 4:00 p.m. Read more…
City of Cedar Rapids Information
In This Section:
- City Business
- Building Closures
- Public Meetings
- Utilities
- Transit Service
- Parks & Recreation
- Park CR Downtown Parking
- Partnerships & Planning
City Business
The City continues to operate and maintain essential services to the public. Many services and city business can be conducted online or over the phone. View a full list of online resources.
⭠ Back to City info | Back to top ↑
Building Closures
In an effort to limit public interactions and gatherings, several City of Cedar Rapids facilities will be closed to the general public effective through July 20, 2020.
This includes:
- City Hall (101 1st Street SE)
- City Services Center (500 15th Avenue SW)
- Cedar Rapids Water Administration (1111 Shaver Road NE)
- Central Fire Station (713 1st Avenue SE)
- Animal Care and Control (7421 Washington View Parkway SW)
- Cedar Rapids Police Station (505 1st Street SW)
- NW Recreation Center (1340 11th Street NW)
- Downtown Library (450 5th Avenue SE)
- Ladd Library (3750 Williams Boulevar SW)
Departments are making efforts to ensure minimal disruption to public services during this time. A drop-box has been installed outside the City Services Center front lobby doors for those dropping off permits, payment, or other paperwork that would normally be dropped off in person at the front counter. A drop-box is also available at the front of City Hall and the Water Administration Building.
⭠ Back to City info | Back to top ↑
Public Meetings
Non-essential in-person public meetings have been canceled until further notice. Routine City Council meetings and Board and Commission meetings are held via Zoom and streamed on the City of Cedar Rapids Facebook page.
⭠ Back to City info | Back to top ↑
Utilities
Solid Waste & Recycling
The division is observing routine collection.
While walk-in access to the Water Administration building is temporarily suspended, the City of Cedar Rapids offers several ways to complete payments and fulfill its customer service needs:
- Online Payments at www.CityofCR.com/Water
- Customer Service by Phone at 319-286-5900
- Drop Boxes at City Hall and Water Administration Building are still in service
The COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies. Based on current evidence, the risk to our water supply is low. EPA recommends that Americans continue to use and drink tap water as usual. According to the CDC, washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds helps prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Read more in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Water Pollution Control & Sewer
The Sewer division reminds customers that, apart from wastewater, only the “Three P’s” can go down the drain — toilet Paper, Poo, and Pee. “Flushable” wipes are not safe for the sewer system and — like fats, oils, and grease — can cause build up and clog pipes.
The toilet is NOT a trash can. Please do not flush:
- Baby wipes
- Kitchen cleaning/disinfecting wipes
- Makeup removal pads
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- Toilet brush pads
- Diapers or nursing pads
- Hygiene products
- Personal care products
Find more information from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies at nacwa.org/toilets
⭠ Back to City info | Back to top ↑
Transit Service
Beginning Monday, May 18, City of Cedar Rapids Transit service will be available on weekdays, Monday through Friday from 5:15 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with hourly service on all routes except for Route 5, which will run in 15 minute intervals. There will be no weekday peak service or Saturday service at this time. Read more about precautions and requirements for riders.
⭠ Back to City info | Back to top ↑
Parks & Recreation
The public is reminded to follow CDC guidelines when using parks including:
- Follow social distancing standards of a minimum of six feet between you and other park users.
- Do not gather in groups beyond members of your own household.
- Practice good personal hygiene – wash your hands regularly.
- Be aware that park restrooms are currently closed and water is not turned on. Please bring hand sanitizer with you.
- Please carry out any trash that is brought into the parks.
- If you have been sick in the last two weeks or have a cough, fever or other flu-like symptoms, stay home for the health and safety of yourself and others.
- Individuals 60 years of age and older, or those with underlying conditions, should stay at home to avoid potential exposures.
- Trail users on any trail system are encouraged to maintain distance between themselves and others by signaling your presence with your voice, bell, or horn, and stepping off the trail to allow others to pass.
Facility Openings/Closures:
- Bender Pool – CLOSED
- City Services Center – CLOSED
- Ellis, Gardner and Twin Pines Golf Courses – OPEN
- Jones Golf Course – CLOSED
- Northwest Recreation Center – CLOSED
- Old MacDonald's Farm in Bever Park – CLOSED until further notice
- Park pavilions – AVAILABLE (first-come, first-served basis)
- Park restrooms – CLOSED until further notice (except in parks with Splash Pads)
- Tait Cummins Sports Complex – CLOSED
- Tuma Sports Complex – CLOSED until further notice
- Ushers Ferry Historic Village – CLOSED
- Ushers Ferry Lodge – AVAILABLE for rentals
- Veterans Tennis Center – CLOSED
- Noelridge Farmers' Market – OPEN
Parks & Playgrounds: Openings/Closures
- Playgrounds and exercise stations – OPEN
- Basketball Courts, Baseball Fields, Volleyball and Sand Volleyball Courts – OPEN
- Riverside Skate Park – OPEN
- Disc Golf Courses – OPEN
- Tennis Courts – OPEN
- Parks, trails, and dog parks – OPEN
- Prairie Park Fishery – OPEN for fishing and walking
Program Changes
Find latest program information »
Municipal pools to remain closed for Summer 2020:
To protect the safety of employees and the public, the City of Cedar Rapids will not open Bever, Bender, Jones, Ellis, Cherry Hill and Noelridge Pools and Aquatic Centers this summer. The City has spent more than six weeks reviewing potential guidelines for operation and determining if accommodations could be made to safely allow public swimming. With over 160,000 pool users each summer, the potential for exposure to COVID-19 exists, even following guidelines, due to the number of surfaces at the facilities that are touched by hundreds of people each hour. In addition, social distancing within the pool and lifesaving would be problematic. Read more…
⭠ Back to City info | Back to top ↑
Park CR Downtown Parking
Park Cedar Rapids has resumed normal parking practices beginning June 1, 2020. This includes both monthly parking operations and enforcement practices related to metered parking in downtown.
Cedar Rapids’ downtown parking system, in cooperation with the City of Cedar Rapids, Park Cedar Rapids, and the Downtown Parking Management Board had enacted changes to on-street enforcement practices beginning in March, to provide relief and assistance to downtown workers and businesses.
⭠ Back to City info | Back to top ↑
Partnerships & Planning
The City of Cedar Rapids is working with local, state and federal partners to keep our community informed about the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
The City currently has a plan in place to keep our employees safe so that they can continue to provide essential services to our community. We also want to make sure that we provide facts and prevention tips from our partners, like Linn County Public Health and the Iowa Department of Public Health.
⭠ Back to City info | Back to top ↑
Videos
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The FAQs have been moved to another page.
Rumor Control and Trusted Sources
As we continue our efforts of promoting official, verified information, we wanted to provide residents with a list of trusted sources. While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it includes a snapshot of trusted sources in the healthcare, food, and transportation industries. Their respective social media pages are the best places to find and share information that addresses many resident concerns and rumors.
- State of Iowa COVID-19
- Linn County Public Health
- Iowa Department of Public Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- FEMA
- UnityPoint Health
- Mercy Hospital
- Iowa Department of Transportation
- Iowa Grocery Industry Association
- Cedar Rapids Community School District
- College Community School District
- United Way of East Central Iowa
The FEMA rumor control page can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus-rumor-control. The purpose of the FEMA page is to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts . Rumors can easily circulate within communities during a crisis. We can all stop the spread of disinformation by following 3 key steps: don’t believe the rumors, don’t pass them along, and go to trusted sources of information to get the facts. Encourage your friends and families to do the same, and be advocates for responsible and accurate messaging during this already stressful time.
The City has been actively addressing rumors and posting factual information on City communications channels. Recent rumors about COVID-19 “at home” test kits was addressed on the City’s Facebook page (there are no FDA approved kits currently on the market).
The official City communications channels include:
- City of CR Facebook
- City of CR Twitter
- Police Twitter
- Fire Twitter
- City of CR Instagram: CityofCR
- Police Department Facebook
- Fire Department Facebook
- Parks and Recreation Facebook
Iowa State of Public Health Disaster Emergency
The Governor issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Coronavirus Prevention Information
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The Center for Disease Control always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
The Iowa Department of Public Health has provided guidance for businesses, schools, healthcare, long-term care, general public, and travelers.
It is important for Cedar Rapids residents to prepare for the potential of COVID-19 in the same way they prepare for severe weather or other events that could disrupt their normal routine.
- Make a plan and discuss it with your family. What would you do if you could not go to work or school because of illness? What if your daycare provider was ill? How would you get groceries if you were ill? These are all questions to think about.
- It is normal to be concerned about a new virus.
- Being uncertain and anxious about COVID-19 is normal, especially with reports of illness and death.
- Prevention of COVID-19 is the same as that for other respiratory illnesses (like flu).
The Center for Disease Control has the following recommendations to stop the spread of germs:
