Mobile Testing
The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) is offering free COVID-19 testing for Cambridge residents 8 years and older. No identification or Social Security number is required.
Testing is for Cambridge residents only. If you're not a Cambridge resident, please call your local board of health to find out where you can get tested in your city or town.
UPDATE - September 18:
Testing appointments are now available at the following locations:
- Russell Youth and Community Center (formerly the West Cambridge Youth Center) located at 680 Huron Avenue, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23 and Wednesday, Sept. 30.
- Pisani Center located at 131 Washington Street, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 26.
To schedule an appointment, call 617-665-3795 or sign-up online at https://covid-test.appointlet.com/s/cambridge.
Test Results
The Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) shares results with residents who receive testing at a mobile site or CHA stand-alone testing center.
Mobile Testing: Test results are typically available within 2 days on the online patient portal. Residents receive an email alerting them when results are ready on the portal. The health department also notifies Cambridge residents of their results by phone, typically within 3 business days of receiving them.
To find out the status of your test results, leave a message at 617-665-3848 and you will receive a call back.
Other Ways to Get Tested
If you are not a Cambridge resident or cannot access the Cambridge testing sites, there are several ways you can gain access to testing:
Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA)
CHA's new testing location is at 133 Middlesex Ave. in Somerville (Assembly Square). It is open to CHA patients and community members in their service areas (Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Revere, Somerville and Winthrop). It runs Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. You must have an appointment -- please call 617-665-2928 (Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.). You can come by car, by bicycle, or on foot. Please bring a picture ID. More information is available on CHA's website.
CHA has set up a voice mailbox (617-665-1102) to answer questions or concerns about COVID-19 test results. Callers are asked to leave their name, date of birth and phone number for a call back. CHA will respond within one business day. The mailbox is open to community members who have been tested at CHA, including patients, residents and first responders. Any CHA providers or staff members with testing questions should call CHA Occupational Health at 617-591-4660.
Contact Your Health Care Provider
If you think you may have COVID-19, call your health care provider and tell them about your symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms may include fever, sore throat, loss of sense of smell, cough, difficulty breathing, body aches, or chills.
Your health care provider will help you decide whether testing is appropriate. If your provider thinks you should be tested and cannot do the test on-site, they will make the referral to a testing site near you.
Here is a current list of COVID-19 testing sites in Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/doc/ma-covid-19-testing-sites/download
Use the State’s Free Online Telehealth Service
The state is partnering with Doctor on Demand to offer free telehealth visits to Massachusetts residents who want to get a quick assessment of symptoms and/or do not have health insurance. Through this service, you’ll be evaluated online and connected to testing if needed. To access this free service, go to: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/check-your-symptoms-for-covid-19-online
Call the State’s 24-Hour Hotline
If you do not have internet access or do not feel comfortable using websites, you can call 2-1-1, a 24-hour state-supported telephone hotline. Hotline staff can provide guidance on testing.