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 UPDATE CAMBRIDGE CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 6, 2021

Omicron Variant 2

Omicron: What We Know 3 Knowns ●Omicron variant first reported to WHO on Nov. 24. ●Detected in 17 U.S. states, including MA, as of Dec. 5. Unknowns ●Transmissibility ●Severity of disease ●Risk of reinfection with Omicron ●Effectiveness of vaccines What We Can Do Now: ●Vaccination/Boosters ●Masking ●Testing ●Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces

Middlesex County and Cambridge Cases by Risk Category ↑High ↑Substantial ↑Moderate

Case Rate by Age Group IN PROGRESS - AK 5

Massachusetts Hospitalizations 6 Number of Massachusetts Hospital Admissions by Age -- Past 2 Weeks Number of COVID-19 Patients in Hospital April 4, 2020 - Dec. 1 2021 On Dec. 1, there were 989 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Of those people, 370 (37%) were reported to be fully vaccinated.

Indoor Mask Mandate Metrics 7 Metric Status Low Community Transmission Levels in Middlesex County HIGH transmission Availability of vaccines for younger children YES: age 5 - 11 NO: < age 5 Availability of boosters for eligible residents YES: Available LIMITED: Access Fall/winter holidays and the tendency for people to gather indoors YES: Current holiday surge New variant(s) of concern/ Other game changers YES: Omicron

Transition from Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC)to Locals 8 ●State is ending its contract with the CTC on December 30 ●Contract tracing and case investigation will transfer to local public health ●State guidelines are shifting to prioritize areas of greatest need ●CPHD is working with grant-funded partners (Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop) to be responsive to new guidelines, adjust protocols

Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics 9 Dec. 15 First Dose Clinic for ages 5+ Second Dose Clinic on Jan. 5 December COVID-19 booster clinics ● First responders ● The homeless community ● Homebound individuals

City Pilots New Testing Site in Kendall Square ●On Dec. 4, the City launched free Covid-19 testing on Saturdays in Kendall Square through partnership with CIC Health. ●Testing offered by appointment only from 8 am to 4 pm at 295 Third St. ●Appointments and testing results handled through CIC Health. 10