News

The Baker-Polito Administration outlined plans to start vaccines for congregate care settings, the next priority group within Phase One of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.

To ensure the safety of the public and City staff, in-person appointments at City buildings, including contactless holds pick-up at the Cambridge Public Library, will continue to be suspended until at least Monday, February 1, 2021 as well. While City buildings will remain closed to the public, City offices will be open, and many City services can be accessed online or over the telephone.

Launched in July 2020, the City of Cambridge COVID-19 Housing Stabilization Program serves to provide short term financial assistance to individuals and families in Cambridge who are experiencing housing instability due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Baker-Polito Administration announced the extension of further restrictions and new hospital guidance to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.

The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Public Health Department recognize that there are many questions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, including safety of the vaccines; trust in government and pharmaceutical companies who developed the vaccines; potential side effects; who should and should not receive the vaccine; and where vaccines will be administered. CPHD and the City will continue to update residents and those who work in Cambridge as more information becomes available.

The Baker-Polito Administration outlined plans to vaccinate the Commonwealth’s first responders, the next priority group within Phase One of the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan.

From January 1, 2021 through January 18, 2021, City of Cambridge departments will not be conducting in-person appointments. City offices remain open to assist residents by email or phone.

The Cambridge Community Foundation and the City of Cambridge have awarded a total of $257,500 in grants to 25 Cambridge-based arts and cultural organizations through the Cultural Capital Fund. Created in late October with a founding $500,000 gift from the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund and a $100,000 investment from the Wagner Foundation, the fund was established to address urgent needs in the sector due to COVID-19 and to protect the city’s cultural richness over the long term.

The City of Cambridge announced that in addition to Governor Baker's capacity restrictions released on December 22, 2020 in the Governor’s COVID-19 Order # 59, the City is issuing a temporary emergency order to further reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Cambridge. Effective at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 26, the City of Cambridge will roll back to a modified Phase II, Step 2 of the Commonwealth’s Reopening Massachusetts Plan until at least 12:00 a.m. on January 16, 2021, or until further modified.

The Baker-Polito Administration launched a $668 million program to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program in part relies on the pending federal COVID-19 relief bill recently passed by Congress. Regardless of the developments at the federal level, the Baker-Polito Administration will start releasing millions in new funding to restaurants, retailers, and other small businesses throughout the Commonwealth as soon as next week.