News

The Baker-Polito Administration announced a $774 million comprehensive plan to stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy. The plan focuses on getting people back to work, supporting small businesses, fostering innovation, revitalizing downtowns and ensuring housing stability. Partnerships for Recovery begins today by directing $115 million in new funding to small businesses and Main Streets hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and for workforce training efforts. Additionally, the Administration is aligning multiple funding sources, both existing and proposed, to appropriately respond to the crisis.

Cambridge has been recategorized as a “yellow” risk community based on new data published by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health today. A Yellow designation is given to communities where the average daily case rate over the last 14 days is 4-8 cases per 100,000 population. Cambridge is currently at 4.1 cases per 100,000 residents according to the October 22 data release by the Commonwealth.

As part of its ongoing efforts to support the local business community and extend the outdoor dining season safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Cambridge announced a new Patio Heater Reimbursement Program.

On Tuesday, October 20, the Cambridge Public Health Department was alerted through the MAVEN surveillance system and the facility that a resident of a long-term care facility tested positive for COVID-19

The Cambridge Public Health Department is ramping up its efforts to vaccinate more residents than in previous years, with the goal of administering 10,000 flu shots this season.

Since Friday, October 2, seven residents of a Cambridge skilled nursing facility have tested positive for COVID-19. Five of the seven individuals are current residents of the facility; the other two individuals were discharged from the facility prior to testing positive and no longer reside in Cambridge. In addition, one facility employee who does not reside in Cambridge has tested positive for COVID-19.

Since Friday, October 2, three residents of a Cambridge long-term care facility have tested positive for COVID-19. All staff and residents have since been tested, and the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) will announce any positive results once they are posted in MAVEN, the state’s reportable disease database.

On October 2, 2020, the City issued the Fourth Amended Temporary Emergency Order Requiring the Wearing of Masks or Cloth Face Coverings in All Public Places, Businesses, and Common Areas of Residential Buildings.

The City of Cambridge announced that all City-sponsored community events, events permitted for the use of City parks, or other City-sponsored public gatherings will be cancelled through October 26, 2020, or postponed to a later date. All prior approvals for events or gatherings are revoked. The City Manager’s Office is collaborating with the City’s COVID-19 Expert Advisory Panel, the Commissioner of Public Health, and the Cambridge Public Health Department to evaluate and determine what Halloween activities will be allowed in the City. Further guidance on Halloween activities in the City to be announced the week of October 12.

On September 22, 2020 Governor Baker issued updated restaurant safety guidelines. Today, the City of Cambridge issued a related and corresponding Temporary Emergency Order Regarding Restaurant Operations.