City of Cambridge Announces Rollback to a Modified Phase II, Step 2 for Three Weeks Beginning December 26, 2020

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.

Since July, the City of Cambridge has remained in Phase III, Step 1 of the Commonwealth’s Reopening Massachusetts Plan. Returning to a modified Phase II, Step 2 will require certain sectors designated as eligible to operate in Phase III, Step 1 to close, while allowing a limited number of Phase III, Step 1 sectors to continue operating with restrictions.

“Like many communities, Cambridge has experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases among its residents following the Thanksgiving holiday and our daily case rate has not returned to pre-Thanksgiving levels,” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “We continue to urge everyone to take personal responsibility for slowing the spread of COVID-19 and follow the public health guidelines while visiting public spaces or businesses. I strongly encourage residents for the next few weeks to minimize or avoid in-person gatherings with people from outside their immediate household.”

The City of Cambridge is issuing a Temporary Emergency Order that will require the following additional mandatory closures beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 26, 2020 for a three-week period until 12:00 a.m. on January 16, 2021, or until further modified: 

• Museums
• Indoor historic spaces/sites
• Movie theaters
• Sightseeing and other organized tours
• Indoor events spaces such as meeting rooms, ballrooms, and private party rooms
• Indoor recreational activities such as batting cages, driving ranges, go karts, bowling alleys, rock-climbing walls

In Cambridge, the following Phase III, Step 1 sectors will be allowed to operate, in accordance with capacity limits set forth in Governor Baker’s COVID-19 Order # 59, with additional City restrictions beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 26, 2020 for a three-week period until 12:00 a.m. on January 16, 2021, or until further modified:

• Fitness centers and health clubs may only operate at 25% capacity and in accordance with the following requirements:
  • Locker room/changing room capacity at indoor fitness centers and health clubs shall be limited to 1 person per 200 square feet;
  • Customers of fitness centers and health clubs shall only utilize the facility for a ninety (90) minute time period, per day;
• Indoor recreational and athletic facilities for general use (not limited to youth programs) may only operate at 25% capacity.
  • Youth sports activities and programs are permitted in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Workplace Safety and Reopening Standards for Businesses and Other Entities Providing Youth and Adult Amateur Sports Activities – Phase III, Step 1, amended on December 9, 2020 and effective on December 13, 2020.
• Outdoor theatres and other outdoor performance venues not designated as Phase IV enterprises may continue to operate and do not have to close, however, may only operate with a capacity of twenty-five (25) people.
• Outdoor event spaces used for gatherings and celebrations including those in parks reservations, and other outdoor spaces not designated as Phase IV enterprises may continue to operate and do not have to close, however, may only operate with a capacity of twenty-five (25) people.
• Indoor non-athletic instructional classes art/education/life skills for persons 18 years or older may continue to operate and do not have to close, however, may only operate with a capacity of ten (10) people or at 25% capacity, whichever is less.

"While new infection rates in Cambridge are currently lower than in neighboring communities, as well as in most large cities in the Commonwealth, we have seen significant increased community transmission in Cambridge since Thanksgiving," said Claude A. Jacob, Chief Public Health Officer and director of the Cambridge Public Health Department. "We are especially concerned about transmission to residents at greatest risk for severe illness, and believe the measures announced today will contribute to slowing the spread of the virus."  

As COVID-19 infections rise in Massachusetts and the region, the City of Cambridge will continue to take a cautious and measured approach to activities and industries permitted in Cambridge and will continue to closely monitor public health data as part of its decision-making process.

View full text of the City of Cambridge Temporary Emergency Order Requiring a Modified Rollback to Phase II, Step 2 of Governor Baker’s Reopening Plan in the City of Cambridge that was issued on December 23, 2020.

View full text of Governor’s COVID-19 Order # 59 that was issued on December 22, 2020.

As a reminder, the City’s Face Coverings Order remains in effect at all times when outside your home.

For more information and to sign up to receive updates on COVID-19, please visit the City’s dedicated information page: https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19.