News Stories

The City of Cambridge announced a new Restaurant and Nightlife Relief Grant program today which will award $2,500,000 to eligible Cambridge venues. These grants, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will provide relief to local, non-franchise cafes, restaurants, and entertainment venues (e.g. movie theaters, performance venues, galleries) heavily impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants and entertainment venues citywide will be able to apply for grant awards of $10,000 for allowable business expenses such as payroll, rent, personal protective equipment, utilities, goods and equipment, and outdoor dining infrastructure. Applications will be accepted from February 3-28, 2022 at 8:00 p.m.

The City of Cambridge announced that, beginning Saturday, February 5, 10,000 COVID-19 rapid at-home test kits and 20,000 high-quality KF94 masks will be available for the public to pick up at the Main Library, City Hall, and multiple Fire Stations across the City during select dates and times while supplies last.

Today (January 31, 2022), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a second COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine; the approved vaccine will be marketed as Spikevax for the prevention of COVID-19 in individuals 18 years of age and older.

In Massachusetts, the “Omicron surge” peaked in early January, a few weeks earlier than had been predicted. Based on wastewater samples collected from Cambridge, Boston, and surrounding communities, the peak of Omicron infections occurred on January 5.

More fully vaccinated Cambridge residents are now eligible for COVID-19 boosters following recent recommendations from the CDC.

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced a tool that gives residents a new way to access their COVID-19 digital vaccine card and vaccination history. The new tool, called My Vax Records, allows people who received their vaccination in Massachusetts to access their own vaccination history and generate a COVID-19 digital vaccine card, which would contain similar vaccination information to a paper CDC card. The COVID-19 digital vaccine cards produced by the system utilize the SMART Health Card platform and generate a QR code that can be used to verify vaccination. The Administration is not requiring residents to show proof of vaccination to enter any venue, but this tool will help residents who would like to access and produce a digital copy of their record.

Many Cambridge residents are now eligible for booster shots, including children age 12 and older. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported this week that 38% of Cambridge residents have received a booster. With the Omicron variant widely circulating, the Cambridge Public Health Department urges you to get this additional dose. In the face of increasing cases in the community, the additional protection provided by the booster is critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

The City of Cambridge today amended its emergency order requiring that face masks or coverings be worn in indoor public places to include common areas of residential buildings with at least four units as well as common areas of office and laboratory buildings. The order applies to everyone over the age of two years old, with exceptions in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidelines. This amended order takes effect on Friday, January 7, 2022 at 12:01 a.m.

On December 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued recommendations for shortening the COVID-19 isolation and quarantine periods for the general public. This guidance was adopted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) on Dec. 29.