A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a COVID-19 update

The Public Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cambridge COVID-19 WEEKLY REPORT CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL MAY 3, 2021

Case Snapshot (as of April 30) New infection rates among Cambridge residents substantially declined during the last two weeks in April. Sources: 1Cambridge Public Health Department data, accessed on 4/30/21 @ 5 pm; 2Massachusetts Department of Public Health Weekly COVID-19 Interactive Dashboard, April 30, 2021. 6,123 Total Cases1 (confirmed, probable and suspect) ● 5,820 in the community ● 303 cases in long-term care 122 Deaths1 ● 62% of deaths were among LTC residents Active Cases1 ● 9% of all cases are active 7.6 Confirmed Cases per 100,0001 (7-day average for April 23–April 29) Test Positivity2 ● 0.44% (2-week period ending April 24) 2

COVID-19 Community Testing in Cambridge 3

State Reopening Updates On April 27, Governor Baker announced that Massachusetts will reopen some outdoor Phase 4, Step 2 industries effective May 10 and put plans in place for further reopening on May 29 and August 1, subject to public health and vaccination data. • Effective April 30: Masks will only be required outside in public when it is not possible to socially distance, at outdoor events, and at other times required by sector-specific guidance. • Effective May 10: Amusement parks and some other outdoor industries will be able to reopen at 50% capacity. Youth and adult amateur sports tournaments will be allowed for moderate and high risk sports. • Effective May 29: Gatherings outdoors can now include up to 250 people; indoor gatherings can include up to 200 people. 4

5 State Vaccine Update 1 Massachusetts Department of Public Health Weekly COVID-19 Municipality Vaccination Report, April 29, 2021. ●53% of Massachusetts residents have received at least one dose of vaccine, as of April 20.1 ●MA ranks 1st in the nation for persons having received 1+ doses administered per capita amongst states with 5 million residents or more.1 ●MA ranks 2nd in the nation for persons having received 1+ doses administered per capita.1

City Vaccine Update The Cambridge Pandemic Collaborative (CPC) began administering vaccines in early January. ●As of May 1, 3,662 people had received at least one dose of (Moderna) or the single-shot (J&J) vaccine at City-run clinics. ●During the week of April 25-May 1: ○ 12 J&J doses were administered to homebound individuals (April 30) A total 104 homebound residents vaccinated through the program. ○ 78 J&J doses were administered to residents of North Cambridge and the community on April 29 and May 1. ○ Additional J&J clinics will be held May 5-7. 6 Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders with public health and fire dept. staff at the May 1 clinic.

7 City Vaccine Update (as of April 27) Vaccination Race/Ethnicity Data The proportion of Cambridge residents by race and ethnicity who have received at least one dose of vaccine in Cambridge and Massachusetts: Race/Ethnicity Cambridge1 MA2 Asian 49% 48% Black 49% 34% Hispanic/Latinx 43% 30% Multiracial 48% 58% White 57% 52% Total % of all residents who have received at least one dose 59% 53% ¹MA Department of Public Health Weekly COVID-19 Municipality Vaccination Report, April 29, 2021.² MA Department of Public Health Weekly Vaccine Report, April 29, 2021. Data for Cambridge and Massachusetts is current as of April 27, 2021.

City Vaccine Update (as of April 27) Vaccination Age and Gender Data 8 Cambridge1 MA2 0-19 Years 11% 7.6% 20-29 Years 54% 46% 30-49 Years 67% 58% 50-64 Years 83% 72% 65-74 Years 88% 87% 75+ Years 94% 87% Female 59% 56% Male 57% 48% The proportion of Cambridge residents who have received at least one dose of vaccine by age and gender: ¹MA Department of Public Health Weekly COVID-19 Municipality Vaccination Report, April 29, 2021.²MA Department of Public Health Weekly Vaccine Report, April 29, 2021. Data for Cambridge and Massachusetts is current as of April 27, 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccine Communications Communications Campaign ●Created communications regarding the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, now that the pause has been lifted by the federal government; disseminated via City website, daily email, and social media. ●Continued follow up and targeted outreach over the next weeks as we monitor vaccine uptake by race/ethnicity, age, and gender and as “vaccine saturation” sets in Cambridge (as in the state and nationwide) Clinician Speakers Bureau ●Community forums in process for Haitian community and Spanish-speakers. 9

Behind the Numbers CPHD and City partners have been vaccinating Cambridge residents since January. The following represents a conversation our public health nurse had with a resident during our vaccine clinic on Saturday at Reservoir Church: I had a husband and wife come in, with plans for only the husband to be vaccinated due to concerns about the reports of blood clots in women who received the J&J vaccine. I discussed with the husband common, expected side effects (sore arm, body aches, mild fever) vs. rare but serious complications (chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, severe back/abdominal/leg pain, unusual bruising). Both listened and asked several follow up questions. The husband got vaccinated and his wife went with him to the observation area. Moments later she returned and said she had changed her mind and wanted to be vaccinated as well. 10